NCJ Number
207841
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 16-19,21
Date Published
May 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the problem of prescription drug diversion.
Abstract
After receiving a grant from the State of Ohio in late 1990 to investigate and prosecute prescription drug offenders, the number of prescription drug arrests made by the Cincinnati Police Department skyrocketed from only a handful per year to over 200 arrests annually. The problem of prescription drug diversion is widespread yet is often silent. Unless investigators specifically target this problem, it will likely remain hidden until there is a fatal overdose. The most popular prescription drugs of abuse are described and include hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, methadone, and bendodiazepines such as Xanax. Prescriptions tend to be diverted either through fake prescriptions, doctor shopping, or through health facility diversion, which generally involves nursing staff substituting prescription drugs for some other substance in order to divert the prescription. Two organizations have formed to work with law enforcement in the effort to end prescription drug abuse: RxPATROL and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI).