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Drug Diversion and Abuse: Monitoring the Future: Some Good News

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In mid­-December 2014, the Monitoring the Future survey results provided good news regarding trends among America’s teens. This nationally known survey inquires about drug use and attitudes of American 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. The results are encouraging on many fronts, but especially regarding pharmaceutical use.

The study specifically cites Vicodin, which has very limited dispensing, but I’m sure that the study is referring to the most prescribed drug in the United States— the generic equivalent, hydrocodone. Hydrocodone has long been a drug of abuse with teenagers, especially high school seniors. However, abuse of hydrocodone among high school seniors has dropped from 9.7% in 2009 to only 4.8% in 2014, according to this recent study. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Rx Boxes 2013

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Several months ago, I wrote about a brand new program that we started at the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI). The program started when I got a call from a nurse who had lost her mother and had a significant amount of leftover controlled substances that she needed to properly dispose of. The national take back program had just ended, and she didn’t want to wait 6 months until the next return day came around.

Through that conversation, NADDI began a program to distribute prescription drug take back boxes across the country. Having boxes at law enforcement locations took care of the problem of the nurse who called me after losing her mother and did not feel comfortable holding onto the medications and waiting for 6 months. It is well known that a considerable amount of the diversion of prescription drugs occurs right in the family medicine cabinet by teenagers and anyone to whom we give access to our bathrooms in our own homes. Getting rid of dangerous medications quickly is a wise move. [Read more…]

Rx Drop Boxes: Do They Work?

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Almost a year has gone by since I wrote my column on the efforts of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) and their use of grant funds from Endo Pharmaceuticals. Endo provided money for NADDI to distribute 100 prescription drug drop boxes for unneeded or expired pharmaceuticals to be dropped off at local law enforcement agencies. This free program was such a success that Endo provided a new grant to NADDI this spring, and those boxes are being disbursed at this time.

NADDI has also made the prescription drug drop boxes available for purchase at our website, www.rxdrugdropbox.org. A significant number of boxes have been purchased and are positioned all across the United States. Individuals can go to the website, put in their zip code, and the program will locate the closest box to their residence. Any Rx drop box is included in this website, not just those NADDI has sponsored or sold. [Read more…]

Rx Drug Drop Boxes

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The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI), with financial support of Endo Pharmaceuticals, has launched a brand new program to further facilitate the return of outdated and/or unneeded prescription drugs. NADDI, a nonprofit organization of which I am the national president, is devoted to providing information and services to our members and the general public concerning pharmaceutical diversion.

One issue that has continually surfaced for our members, and likely for pharmacists around the country, is the unfortunate dilemma of the prescription drugs that are left behind after the death of a loved one. The legal issues around this are many, because the medication is prescribed to an individual who is now deceased. The best course of action must be determined to remove the drugs, which are subject to illegal diversion, from the household. [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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