Customers may display one or more of the following signs if they are requesting medication for inappropriate use:

• Nervous or guilty behaviour demonstrated by avoiding eye contact, appearing uncomfortable answering questions or appearing unusually quiet or reticent to provide information.
• Lacking symptoms that would be expected for the medication being requested, such as not having cough or cold symptoms, not being able to describe someone elses symptoms when requesting a cough or cold remedy or describing being in pain but appearing physically active.
• Being too well prepared to answer questions or appearing to have rehearsed the answers to expected questions.
• Being in a rush or hurry to complete the transaction; the customer may appear impatient or aggressive.
• Being opportunistic when making requests, such as waiting for the pharmacy to be very busy or for less experienced/temporary staff to be working on the pharmacy counter.
• Requesting only specific brands rather than recommended alternatives.
• Requesting large quantities of products.
• Requesting frequent supplies that would indicate the medicine is being used at doses above those recommended or for excessive periods of time.
• Requesting other items that could be used in the manufacture of illicit drugs such as lithium batteries or chemicals like acetone.