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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: 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…]

A Pharmacist’s Dilemma?

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Recently, on a list server in which I participate, a pharmacist was posing a question to the health professionals, law enforcement officers, and regulators as to the course of action needed in a dispensing issue. It seems a local doctor was prescribing extra-strength hydrocodone and acetaminophen combination to the tune of 120 pills every 9 to 10 days, creating the intake of at least 9 g of acetaminophen per day for the patient!

The physician had been warned twice by the pharmacy, yet he continued to prescribe the medication, and the patient continued to have it filled at the complaining pharmacy. Understandably, the pharmacist was feeling very uncomfortable being involved in filling these prescriptions, and offered the situation to the group for input. [Read more…]

Identifying Legitimate Patients Revisited

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In my December 2008 column, I discussed the idea of patients providing positive photo identification when picking up controlled substance prescriptions at the retail pharmacy. In that article, I asked for input from you—the reader—on the pros and cons of making this mandatory in any one state or on a national level. I probably received more responses from that article than any other article I have written over the past few years.

One reader indicated that the pharmacy technician in his store wrote the patient’s driver’s license or state identification number directly on the prescription for CII drugs only. This took very little time, but the reader felt that it was a very effective way to curb drug diversion. [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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