Pharmaceutical diversion

Pharmaceutical diversion is the "illegal diversion of prescription drugs...." [ [http://www.rxdiversion.com/ RxDiversion.com web page] ] It is, simply put, "the diversion of licit drugs for illicit purposes." [ [http://www.qsl.net/w5www/diversion.html Drug Diversion 101 web site] ]

Examples of how, when and why it occurs

This activity can occur in many venues; and it:

A leading web site claims that:

"The Cincinnati Post" has reported on its frequency. John Burke, a leading expert on the issue, was quoted as saying, "Pharmaceutical diversion is kind of funny because it's going on in every community, but it appears not to exist unless you go after it purposely," [cite news|url=http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/18/pharm011805.html|title=Police target prescription abuse|author=Shelly Whitehead|first=Shelly|last=Whitehead|work=The Cincinnati Post|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|date=2005-01-18|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050312065853/http://www.cincypost.com/2005/01/18/pharm011805.html|archivedate=2005-03-12]

According to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), "Most pharmaceuticals abused in the United States are diverted by doctor shopping, forged prescriptions, theft and, increasingly, via the Internet." [ [http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/11449/diversion.htm US DOJ Government web site] ]

"To reduce the occurrence of pharmaceutical diversion by doctor shopping and prescription fraud," the DOJ and "21 states have established prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) that facilitate the collection, analysis, and reporting of information regarding pharmaceutical drug prescriptions." [ [http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/11449/diversion.htm US DOJ Government web site] ]

References

ee also

* Diversion
* Drug diversion
* Oxycodone
* Pharmaceuticals in India
* Steroids