Opioid diversion cases

588 documented cases, 1983–2026.

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 opioid (buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, sufentanil, tramadol).

Monetary penalties stated

Median: $27,250
Smallest $400 · largest $4,500,000

Median of 84 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 74 of 588 records. 514 records state no dollar amount.

Custodial sentences stated

Shortest: 1 month
Longest: 468 months (39 years)

133 prison or jail terms stated in 130 of 588 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.

Roles named in the records

Nurse (role unspecified)215
Pharmacist75
Pharmacy technician72
Physician / surgeon68
Not stated in the record or its title67
Registered nurse (RN)41
Licensed practical / vocational nurse11
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA)10
Nurse practitioner / APRN8
Paramedic / EMT8
Dentist / oral surgery4
Nurse aide / assistant3
Surgical / OR technician3
Veterinarian3

From the Role field (105) or, where the record has none, the case title (416).

States with the most records

Massachusetts26
New York24
Maryland21
Illinois19
Florida18
Iowa18
Michigan17
Connecticut16

52 states and territories in all; every state.

Settings involved

Other / not classified235
Hospital / health system199
Retail pharmacy100
Long-term care19
Ambulatory surgery / OR9
Dental / oral surgery6
Emergency services / EMS5
Home health / hospice5
Fertility / reproductive2
No setting stated8

Drugs named

oxycodone248
fentanyl181
hydrocodone157
hydromorphone124
morphine87
alprazolam31
methadone23
tramadol23
codeine16
amphetamine14
meperidine14
lorazepam11
midazolam9
propofol5
ketamine4
buprenorphine2
methylphenidate2
sufentanil2
phenobarbital1
testosterone1

A record naming two drugs counts under both.

Other drugs and classes

Cases

Newest first · page 22 of 24, 526–550 of 588

  1. Vermont supermarket pharmacist wrote and filled fraudulent hydrocodone prescriptions in two states 2014-03-11 · Retail pharmacy
  2. Burlington pharmacy technician accused of taking thousands of hydrocodone, zolpidem and buprenorphine tablets 2014-03-11 · Retail pharmacy
  3. UW Hospital nurse charged in morphine and hydromorphone syringe diversion 2014-03 · Madison, WI · Hospital / health system
  4. Former nurse at Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill charged with forging controlled-substance records to divert oxycodone 2014-03 · Smyrna, DE · Hospital / health system
  5. Virginia Prescriber Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Virginia · Other / not classified
  6. New Jersey Pharmacist Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · New Jersey · Retail pharmacy
  7. Mississippi Pharmacist Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Mississippi · Other / not classified
  8. Maryland Physician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Maryland · Other / not classified
  9. Illinois Physician Sentenced in Controlled Substance Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Illinois · Other / not classified
  10. Iowa Physician Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2014) 2014 · Iowa · Other / not classified
  11. Traveling Radiologic Technologist Sentenced for Fentanyl Diversion and Multistate Hepatitis C Outbreak — New Hampshire, 2013 2013-12-02 · Exeter, New Hampshire · Hospital / health system
  12. Delaware nurse suspended two years after unrecorded cabinet withdrawals and muscle-relaxant theft at a state prison 2013-11-07 · Hospital / health system
  13. Hospital pharmacist convicted of stealing oxycodone and Ambien from Mid Coast Hospital for personal use 2013-10 · Brunswick, ME · Hospital / health system
  14. Psychiatrist found to have unlawfully possessed controlled substances taken back from patients and kept no required records 2013-09 · Albuquerque, NM · Other / not classified
  15. California retail pharmacy technician accused of conspiring with physician to divert opioids; Board decision issued 2013-07-17 · Retail pharmacy
  16. Sweetbriar Assisted Living nurse sentenced for hydrocodone theft and falsifying records 2013-06 · Charleston, WV · Other / not classified
  17. New Hampshire pharmacy technician's registration suspended after admitted hydrocodone theft and resale 2013-06 · Retail pharmacy
  18. Hospital Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Dilaudid, Causing Patient Infections — Minnesota, 2013 2013-03-20 · St. Cloud, Minnesota · Hospital / health system
  19. VA Hospital Pharmacy Technician Sentenced for Stealing Oxycodone and Other Narcotics — Oregon, 2013 2013-01-31 · Roseburg, Oregon · Hospital / health system
  20. New Hampshire pharmacy technician surrendered registration after alleged theft of oxycodone tablets 2013-01 · Retail pharmacy
  21. Washington Physician Convicted in Opioid Diversion Case (2013) 2013 · Washington · Other / not classified
  22. Texas Pharmacy Technician Faces License Action Over Opioid Diversion (2013) 2013 · Texas · Retail pharmacy
  23. Tennessee Pharmacist Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2013) 2013 · Tennessee · Other / not classified
  24. Maine Health Care Worker Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2013) 2013 · Maine · Other / not classified
  25. Florida Pharmacist Sentenced in Opioid Diversion Case (2013) 2013 · Florida · Other / not classified

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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.

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