Preventing Drug Diversion in Healthcare

Course Code: 4120 / classroom

2 contact hours

Perioperative Nurses

Opioid addiction has been recognized as an epidemic in the United States. Healthcare professionals are not immune to this risk; in fact, the ready access to prescription drugs in the healthcare setting has been recognized as a key factor in substance abuse among healthcare professionals and drug diversion in the healthcare setting at the hands of addicted healthcare professionals. Greater awareness and education about drug diversion is needed in the healthcare setting, including what it is, how it occurs, and how it can be prevented. The education efforts should also create an understanding of adjunct technologies that can be implemented to reduce drug diversion dangers in healthcare and help organizations come into compliance with federal and state regulations for safe drug disposal.