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The Other Victim of Drug Diversion and Abuse: The Legitimate Patient with Pain

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I have been in law enforcement for almost 48 years, a portion of which—especially the past 25 years—has been primarily devoted to fighting illegal drug trafficking. I include prescription drugs in this work because when they are diverted, they essentially become illegal drugs.

The prescription drug work is somewhat different than combating the distribution of common street drugs, because with the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, there are 2 victims. Collateral damage is widespread regarding all illegal drugs, but with prescription drugs, there is another victim: legitimate patients with pain. These victims basically stay hidden in our society, mostly because they are physically and financially unable to protest, and have little ability to organize with a united voice. Severe pain mandates paying undivided attention to these victims. [Read more…]

Paying for Abuse-Deterrent Formulations: A Good Idea?

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With multiple pharmaceutical manufacturers now entering the market with abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) of opiate pain relievers, insurance carriers are getting up in arms at the costs of these drugs. This additional cost aims to make it much harder (or virtually impossible) to break down a drug for injection or snorting, two of the main methods used by addicts.

I have talked about these types of drugs in prior articles. In August 2010, OxyContin was the first one that came to market; its considerable abuse background makes it an ideal prescription drug to evaluate for success or failure. August 2015 will mark 5 years since the launch of the reformulated OxyContin, and the abuse level continues to be far less than before the crucial formula change. Someone mentioned to me the other day about hearing that some folks on the street had found a way to easily and quickly compromise the new drug and turn it into the OxyContin of old. I hear this from time to time or even see it claimed on some blog or in a comment by an anonymous source. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Nighttime Drug Diversion

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A topic I haven’t covered in a very long time is the activity of drug seekers at night and after the close of most businesses, including doctors’ offices and clinics. The places affected by nighttime diversion are emergency departments (EDs) and 24­hour and late­night pharmacies.

Drug seekers have been presenting to America’s EDs for decades, and this activity hasn’t decreased much, if at all. The supposed injuries and problems for which drug seekers come to the ED are as varied as prescription drug seekers themselves. I’ve seen cases of people who in order to receive a pain shot burned parts of their bodies, including their testicles; aggravated existing root canal work in the ED parking lot; and carried their own blood in syringes to feign vomiting it. [Read more…]

Prescription Monitoring Programs-2014

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If you have followed this column, you know I am a big proponent of prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) in this country. However, I am not a proponent of a single PMP being run nationally by a federal governmental entity. Rather, I support management by individual states that establish their own laws as to who has access and how it can be used. I don’t agree with how some of them restrict law enforcement to easily access the data, but I recognize that the whole system works better when states do their own thing! [Read more…]

Hydrocodone Combination Products: Moving from CIII to CII

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The Drug Enforcement Administration recently announced that all hydrocodone products will have a CII status effective October 6, 2014. This includes all combination products, which represent the vast majority of hydrocodone that is consumed annually.

Knowing the definition of CII status, there is no doubt that hydrocodone should have this status due to the extent of the associated abuse and misuse. Hydrocodone products are the most prescribed pharmaceuticals, controlled substance or not. The US population consumes an enormous amount of this versatile pain killer, which has provided relief to countless patients over several decades—all while these combination products remained in CIII status. [Read more…]

How BIG is the problem?

Year after year, state and local law enforcement statistics indicate that pharmaceuticals are almost 30% of the overall drug problem in the United States, running a close second only marijuana abuse. However, until recently, law enforcement, health care professionals, and the general public have placed little emphasis on this huge problem.

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Pharmaceutical Diversion Education (PDE) is designed to assist a wide range of the population in understanding the potential abuse and addiction that can be associated with prescription medication.

Drug Diversion:
Any Criminal Act Involving a Prescription Drug.

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