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NABP Announces New Website on Rx Abuse

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The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) launched a new program and website during its annual meeting in May. The program revolves around the request that pharmacists pledge to put forth more effort in attempting to reduce pharmaceutical diversion in all facets.

The new website, www.awarerx.org, details the pledge for pharmacists and gives resources for a variety of drug diversion problems. It talks about the new rules from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the collection of controlled substances by DEA license holders. The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act is detailed, giving pharmacists the guidelines if they choose to participate in this program. The Red Flags of Diversion video is also available for viewing and uses actors to recreate some common forms of diversion by drug seekers and retail pharmacists. This product came out of NABP’s 2014 meeting in Phoenix and does a good job of educating retail pharmacists as they do their everyday job. [Read more…]

St. John’s pharmacist, nurse charged following 2 drug probes

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A pharmacist and nurse have been charged in two separate drug investigations in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit — a joint unit with members of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and RCMP — said it arrested a  male pharmacist Tuesday.

The pharmacist, 39, is facing is charge of theft, as a result of an investigation into missing drugs. [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…]

America’s Pharmacists: Doing the Right Thing

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I certainly was aware of pharmacists but never had too much personal contact with them until late 1990. I had appreciated them the few times when I was younger and needed their services—something that increases as you age!

But in 1990, I was fortunate enough to be put in charge of forming a brand-new unit for the Cincinnati Police Division (CPD). We called it the Pharmaceutical Diversion Squad. No one at CPD was really sure what pharmaceutical diversion was, but they had applied for a federal grant and were somewhat surprised when they were awarded almost $500,000 toward this effort.  [Read more…]

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…]

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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