Prescriber drug diversion cases
264 documented cases, 1997–2026.
Figures are derived from the 1081 case records collected on this site, not from any official total. A record counts here when its Role field, or failing that its title, names one of these roles: 20 from the Role field, 244 from the title.
Roles counted: Physician / surgeon (245) · Dentist / oral surgery (12) · Veterinarian (7).
Monetary penalties stated
Median: $100,000
Smallest $5,000 · largest $956,709
Median of 22 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) stated in 20 of 264 records. 244 records state no dollar amount.
Custodial sentences stated
Shortest: 8 months
Longest: 480 months (40 years)
79 prison or jail terms stated in 75 of 264 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.
Drug classes involved
| Drug class | Records |
|---|---|
| Opioids | 156 |
| Other controlled substance | 93 |
| Benzodiazepines | 25 |
| Stimulants | 21 |
| Anabolic steroids | 6 |
| Anesthetics / sedatives | 5 |
| No drug stated | 2 |
A record naming drugs from two classes counts in both.
States with the most records
| State | Records |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 23 |
| Pennsylvania | 23 |
| California | 16 |
| Michigan | 15 |
| New York | 15 |
| Ohio | 14 |
| Florida | 13 |
| Texas | 12 |
45 states and territories in all; every state.
Settings involved
| Setting | Records |
|---|---|
| Other / not classified | 226 |
| Hospital / health system | 20 |
| Dental / oral surgery | 12 |
| Retail pharmacy | 3 |
| No setting stated | 3 |
Other roles
Cases
Newest first · page 11 of 11, 251–264 of 264
- A physician assistant was accused of unauthorized prescribing of Schedule II narcotics to family members 2008-02 · Annapolis, MD · Other / not classified
- Hospital anesthesiologist diverted controlled dangerous substances from medication management system and falsified patient records 2006-10 · Berlin, MD · Hospital / health system
- General practice physician summarily suspended after admitting cocaine use in violation of probation 2006-01 · Columbia, MD · Other / not classified
- Physician removed hospital supplies to administer a controlled substance to a friend and falsified test records to conceal it 2005-02 · Hospital / health system
- General practice physician summarily suspended over alleged conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy and Phentermine 2004-03 · Baltimore, MD · Other / not classified
- Physician assistant's certification revoked after guilty plea to illegally distributing oxycodone 2004-01 · Montgomery, PA · Other / not classified
- Family practice physician's license revoked after ingesting morphine in violation of probation 2004-01 · Catonsville, MD · Other / not classified
- Anesthesiologist placed on probation after being sanctioned for abusing fentanyl and Demerol 2003-07 · Los Angeles, CA · Other / not classified
- Physician assistant self-prescribed narcotic analgesics and benzodiazepines while addicted to opiates 2000-03 · Baltimore, MD · Other / not classified
- Physician assistant applicant found guilty by court-martial of self-prescribing controlled substances and prescribing them for his spouse without authorization 1999-12 · Virginia Beach, VA · Other / not classified
- Psychiatrist in Salisbury, MD, reprimanded for writing controlled dangerous substance prescriptions for himself under others' names 1999-08 · Salisbury, MD · Other / not classified
- Physician wrote prescriptions in patients' names and diverted the controlled substance for personal use 1999-04 · Kensington, MD · Other / not classified
- Physician pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining diazepam 1997-05 · Brownsville, TX · Other / not classified
- Family practice physician convicted of illegally distributing stimulants and dispensing controlled substances 1997-04 · Potomac, MD · 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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