Benzodiazepine diversion cases
53 documented cases, 2010–2026.
Figures are derived from the 931 case records collected on this site, not from any official total. A record counts here when its Drug field names a benzodiazepine (alprazolam, lorazepam, midazolam).
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $162,500
Smallest $20,000 · largest $300,000
Median of 4 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 4 of 53 records. 49 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 1 month
Longest: 171 months
9 prison or jail terms stated in 8 of 53 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy technician | 16 |
| Physician / surgeon | 9 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 7 |
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 7 |
| Pharmacist | 6 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 4 |
| Licensed practical / vocational nurse | 1 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | 1 |
| Nurse practitioner / APRN | 1 |
| Veterinarian | 1 |
From the Role field (17) or, where the record has none, the case title (29).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 5 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 4 |
| Connecticut | 3 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| South Dakota | 3 |
| Alabama | 2 |
| Arizona | 2 |
28 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Hospital / health system | 18 |
| Other / not classified | 17 |
| Retail pharmacy | 16 |
| Long-term care | 1 |
| No setting stated | 1 |
Drugs named
| Drug | Records |
|---|---|
| alprazolam | 34 |
| hydrocodone | 27 |
| oxycodone | 16 |
| fentanyl | 15 |
| lorazepam | 14 |
| hydromorphone | 10 |
| midazolam | 9 |
| tramadol | 9 |
| codeine | 8 |
| methadone | 6 |
| ketamine | 2 |
| morphine | 2 |
| propofol | 2 |
| amphetamine | 1 |
| meperidine | 1 |
| phenobarbital | 1 |
A record naming two drugs counts under both.
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first · page 3 of 3, 51–53 of 53
- Overland Park pharmacy technician stole hydrocodone and lorazepam, falsified inventories; sentenced to federal probation 2012-04-16 · Retail pharmacy
- Westchester pharmacy technician charged with trafficking oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam after DEA parking-lot arrest 2011-12-21
- Tulsa hospital pharmacy operator paid civil penalty after employees stole hundreds of thousands of hydrocodone and alprazolam doses 2010-02-19 · Hospital / health system
← Back to page 1 · ← All drugs and drug classes · Cases by state · Filter these cases in the case database · Check your own controls with the free assessment
Disclaimer
Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, licensing-board orders, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.
Would your controls have caught these?
The free self-assessment scores your own controls: 8 sections, 63 weighted items, a score for each section, and a PDF you can take to your committee. No account or login.
Start the free assessment