All accreditations for this course have expired.

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Course Summary

Drug diversion can take many forms and there are common ways in which drugs are diverted. As the availability and scope of prescription drugs have expanded to include a range of opiates, non-opiate depressants, stimulants, and potent cold medicines, so too have the misuse of these substances and the tendency to use them recreationally. It is important for all members of the interdisciplinary health team, including prescribers, pharmacists, and nursing staff, to be aware of the different strategies for drug diversion as well as the common characteristics of patients or coworkers with a substance use disorder. There are also preventative measures that healthcare facilities and clinicians may or must use to help reduce the incidence of drug diversion. These include organizational policies mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency, prescription drug monitoring programs, Federal guidelines for proper storage and security regarding controlled substances, and guidelines for ordering, prescribing, preparation and dispensing of prescription drugs or controlled substances.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

I.       Introduction
II.       Drug Diversion and the Scope of the Problem
1.        Drug Diversion and the Opioid Epidemic
2.        Drugs that are Commonly Diverted
III.       Common Forms of Drug Diversion
1.        Drug-seeking Behavior
2.        False or Altered Prescriptions
3.        Drug Diversion and Theft from Healthcare Facilities
4.        Other Theft
IV.       Profiles of People Who Divert Drugs
1.        Profiles of Patients Who Divert Drugs
2.        Consequences of Not Identifying Drug Diverters
V.       Profiles and Warning Signs of Healthcare Workers Who Divert Drugs
VI.     Consequences of Drug Diversion in the Workplace
VII.     Prevention Strategies
1.        Strategies for Identifying Potential Drug Diversion
2.        Monitoring Systems
3.        Organizational Policies
4.        Storage and Security
5.        Safeguards for Prescribers
6.        Ordering and Prescribing
7.        Preparation and Dispensing
8.        Inventory Maintenance
9.        Waste Disposal
VIII.     Responding to Drug Diversion in the Workplace
1.        Mandatory Reporting Requirement
2.        Support for Professionals in Recovery
IX.      Literature Review: Deception and Drug Diversion
X.      Case Study: Heroin Substance Use
XI.      Summary