Morphine diversion cases
87 documented cases, 2000–2026.
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 morphine; it also appears on the opioids page.
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $3,500
Smallest $400 · largest $44,000
Median of 10 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 8 of 87 records. 79 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 111 months
28 prison or jail terms stated in 28 of 87 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Roles named in the records
| Role | Records |
|---|---|
| Nurse (role unspecified) | 51 |
| Pharmacist | 8 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | 7 |
| Not stated in the record or its title | 6 |
| Physician / surgeon | 6 |
| Licensed practical / vocational nurse | 3 |
| Pharmacy technician | 3 |
| Paramedic / EMT | 2 |
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | 1 |
From the Role field (12) or, where the record has none, the case title (69).
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 10 |
| Iowa | 6 |
| Indiana | 5 |
| Illinois | 4 |
| Maryland | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 4 |
| Colorado | 3 |
| Connecticut | 3 |
37 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Hospital / health system | 39 |
| Other / not classified | 32 |
| Long-term care | 6 |
| Retail pharmacy | 5 |
| Emergency services / EMS | 2 |
| Home health / hospice | 2 |
| No setting stated | 1 |
Other drugs and classes
Cases
Newest first · page 4 of 4, 76–87 of 87
- Former Trinity Home Health/Hospice nurses accused of diluting and diverting patients' morphine and hydromorphone 2014-09 · Minot, ND · Home health / hospice
- UW Hospital nurse charged in morphine and hydromorphone syringe diversion 2014-03 · Madison, WI · Hospital / health system
- Maryland Physician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Maryland · Other / not classified
- Maine Health Care Worker Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2013) 2013 · Maine · Other / not classified
- Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with a Dementia Patient's Morphine — Kansas, 2012 2012-02-03 · Topeka, Kansas · Other / not classified
- Nursing Facility Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Patients' Morphine — Kansas, 2012 2012-01-24 · Salina, Kansas · Other / not classified
- Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Diluting Hospice Patients' Morphine with Tap Water — Washington, 2011 2011-03-07 · Snohomish, Washington · Long-term care
- Registered nurse diverted morphine and fentanyl from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin stock or waste 2004-11 · Milwaukee County, Wisconsin · Hospital / health system
- Family practice physician's license revoked after ingesting morphine in violation of probation 2004-01 · Catonsville, MD · Other / not classified
- Radiation therapy technologist's certification revoked after positive drug test for morphine 2003-01 · Bel Air, MD · Other / not classified
- Rochester nurse admitted diverting morphine and hydromorphone through fraudulent dispensing-cabinet entries 2001-11-09
- Children's Wisconsin nurse diverted morphine and fentanyl for self-administration 2000 · Other / not classified
← 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