Although DEA statistics have consistently identified pharmaceuticals as almost 30% of the overall drug problem in the United States, many law enforcement agencies have spent little or no resources to combat the problem. DEA statistics indicate that prescription drug abuse is running a very close second only to cocaine, as the preferred drug of abuse.

Huge profits are made every year by a variety of prescription drug traffickers in this country, who go unnoticed and avoid prosecution in this lucrative market. A variety of regulatory agencies have recognized the problem for decades, pursuing health professionals through administrative processes. Law enforcement is a needed addition that could, and should, be working with the regulatory officers.

Health care professionals can become traffickers in enormous amounts of prescription drugs. Health professionals who are trafficking in prescription drugs can reap large monetary profits, exchange drugs for sex, and engage in health care fraud schemes that represent part of a 100
billion dollar business in the United States each year.

False and forged prescriptions, "doctor shoppers", and other deception scams to obtain prescription drugs are commonplace in every community. These offenders feed addictions, become involved in trafficking offenses, and defraud government and private health care insurance agencies.

This program can be geared to the uniform officer, narcotics officer, health care fraud investigator, or regulatory agents who investigate incidents of pharmaceutical diversion. Areas of instruction are the following:

- IDENTIFYING THE TOP PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OF ABUSE
- STREET VALUE AND USAGE OF THE TOP PHARMACEUTICALS
- INVESTIGATION OF FORGED AND ALTERED PRESCRIPTIONS
- INVESTIGATION OF "DOCTOR SHOPPERS"
- IDENTIFYING THE VARIOUS DECEPTIONS TO OBTAIN DRUGS
- HEALTH PROFESSIONAL DIVERSION INVESTIGATIONS
- INVESTIGATIONS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
- FORMING A FUNCTIONAL AND SUCCESSFUL DIVERSION SQUAD
- IMPORTANCE OF DEALING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES
- DRUG DIVERSION AND THE UNIFORM OFFICER
- DRUG DIVERSION AND THE ILLICIT DRUG INVESTIGATOR
- ASSET FORFEITURE AND PHARMACEUTICAL DIVERSION
- HEALTH CARE FRAUD AND PHARMACEUTICAL DIVERSION

The presentations are augmented with a variety of audio visuals and handouts that complement the education. Several hours, up to a three day training opportunity can be brought to your area or training facility.