Description and comparison of medication diversion in pharmacies by pharmacists, interns, and pharmacy technicians

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To describe reported medication diversion within the practice of pharmacy; and 2) to compare diversion by employee type.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: A sample of state board of pharmacy records was examined from 9 states. Disciplinary actions were obtained from the records for the time period of May 2008 to May 2013.

Participants: Pharmacy employees (pharmacist, technician, interns).

Intervention: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: When a diversion case was identified, the following items were obtained for each case of medication diversion: 1) category of pharmacy employee (pharmacist, technician, intern); 2) type of substance (control, noncontrol, both); 3) use of diverted substance (sale, personal use, both, undetermined); and 4) action taken by the board.

Results: A total of 811 medication diversion cases in 9 states were identified. Most cases involved a pharmacy technician (71.4%), controlled substances only (94.2%), and diversion for personal use (46.6%) and resulted in license or registration revocation or surrender (62.5%). When examining medication diversion use by purpose for diversion, there were significant differences by pharmacy employee type (sale use: P = 0.003; personal use: P = 0.032; unknown use: P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Medication diversion is a pressing problem. There were 811 cases examined by 9 state boards, and many cases may be unreported. Technicians represent nearly three-fourths of diversions. It is essential that the practice of pharmacy identifies and assesses strategies to reduce medication diversion.