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Rising Pharmacy Violence

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Virtually everyone who reads the news is aware of the gruesome and horrific pharmacy robbery in New York during which a hydrocodone addict shot and killed 4 innocent people, 2 of them pharmacy personnel. He was later arrested along with his wife, and awaits trial as this issue is being written.

In another state, a pharmacy employee had her face smashed repeatedly against the shelves during a robbery in her store, and in California, a law enforcement officer was shot after finding an intruder breaking into the back door of a local pharmacy. The suspect initially ran from the officer, then turned and grabbed the officer’s service weapon, and shot him in the shoulder. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion–The Past 20 Years–Part 1

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I realized the other day that I had just completed 20 years of being deeply involved in the world of drug diversion. Of course, as a young uniformed law enforcement officer in the early 1970s, I also dealt with prescription drug abuse, but the emphasis was not nearly as focused as it is today. We still have a way to go as we draw near to 2011.

When I was blessed enough to be selected to form and run the Cincinnati Police Department’s Pharmaceutical Diversion Squad (PDS), most of us knew very little about the crimes that constitute drug diversion. In fact, we were not sure what the words “drug diversion” meant, but we were willing to learn about and attack the problem as best as we could. I started with 4 veteran investigators, myself, and a secretary. Later, the investigative ranks would grow to 6 as the volume of cases increased. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Diversion in the Pharmacy

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A recent post on our list server from a pharmacist in West Virginia indicated that he had just discovered a theft in his pharmacy. Apparently, he noticed sometime after a delivery that many of his CII prescription bottles had been slit on the side, with a quantity of pills missing from each bottle.

Varying strengths of oxycodone and oxymorphone had been removed from the bottles prior to their delivery. A check with at least one other pharmacy near his with the same delivery driver revealed CII bottles with the same slit just below the foil seal. The pharmacist immediately notified the wholesaler, but wanted to know what he should do next. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Keeping Pharmacies Safe

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Although this column has addressed pharmacy robberies and burglaries in the past, it seems that periodic reminders may be important. These crimes do not appear to be going away any time soon—and especially with robberies, they represent a significant threat to the safety and wellbeing of pharmacy employees.

A pharmacy robbery is when an individual(s) comes into your pharmacy with a weapon, or the threat of a weapon, demanding controlled substances. As I have commented many times before in this column, this individual is potentially very dangerous, and you as a pharmacy employee need to be extremely careful as to how you deal with the demands. The suggestion is that you always give this individual whatever drugs or money he or she is demanding to reduce the risk of some form of violence occurring. Your safety is paramount. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Pseudoephedrine Tracking System—NPLEx

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Any pharmacist who works in the retail environment knows that the restriction on pseudoephedrine (PSE) sales in the United States has been ongoing for a couple of years now. PSE is a necessary ingredient in the making of methamphetamine—likely the most addictive and dangerous drug on our planet.

Because of the restrictions, law enforcement was required to expend money and work overtime toward cleanup. Of most concern, however, was the potential danger of the production of clandestine methamphetamine causing toxic fumes and/or explosions. This endangers residents, neighbors, and those who are tasked with the job of dismantling and cleaning up these laboratories and sites. [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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About PDE

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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