Purdue Pharma's RxPatrol provides Twitter updates on pharmacy crime

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss-prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area through Twitter updates by a drug maker that developed a program to combat pharmacy crime.

Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the prescription painkiller OxyContin (oxycodone), said Monday that the tweets would provide safety and security tips for pharmacy staff and help them to better protect customers and their businesses. Purdue developed Rx Pattern Analysis Tracking Robberies and Other Losses, or RxPatrol, in 2003 in cooperation with industry, pharmacists and law enforcement to collect, collate, analyze and disseminate information on pharmacy theft.

The tweets provide specific information on robberies and burglaries, including the exact location of the incident, description of the suspect and any other information that could lead to the suspect's capture.

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