AI Scripts Fake Prescriptions for Risky Drugs

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used to facilitate the procurement of restricted medications, including antibiotics, addictive pills, and potent psychotropic compounds. Investigations have exposed how AI tools can generate convincing fake prescriptions, bypassing necessary doctor consultations and raising alarms about patient safety and regulatory failures.

While some AI platforms initially refused to create official-looking prescriptions, others produced documents bearing hospital logos. The ease of editing existing prescription images further enables the creation of deceptive medical documents. These have been used to acquire restricted antibiotics and even a government-banned drug from online pharmacies.

The misuse extends to dangerous substances like opioid painkillers and psychotropic antianxiety drugs, which were obtained from offline chemists without proper verification. Experts warn that the incorrect use of these drugs, particularly antibiotics, contributes to antimicrobial resistance and carries a high risk of abuse and dependence when not medically supervised.

Existing Indian drug laws require prescriptions for Schedule H and Schedule X medicines, but enforcement is weak. The emergence of AI-generated prescriptions adds a new layer of complexity, allowing seemingly legitimate documents to slip through verification checks at pharmacies. Health officials and pharmacy organizations are calling for immediate action against AI tools that enable such practices to prevent a broader public health crisis.