Drug diversion cases in Massachusetts

25 documented cases, 2011–2026.

Figures are derived from the 730 case records collected on this site, not from official state totals.

Custodial sentences stated

Shortest: 3 months
Longest: 60 months (5 years)

9 prison or jail terms stated in 9 of 25 records. Probation, supervised release, home confinement and suspended terms are not counted.

Monetary penalties stated

Smallest: $20,000
Largest: $2,300,000

5 amounts in US dollars (civil settlements and penalties, criminal fines, restitution, forfeiture) in 4 of 25 records.

Drug classes involved

Opioids23
Benzodiazepines1
Other controlled substance1
Stimulants1

A record naming drugs from two classes counts in both.

Settings involved

Hospital / health system10
Long-term care6
Other / not classified6
Emergency services / EMS2
Retail pharmacy1

Cases

Newest first

  1. Fitchburg Nursing Facility LPN Replaced Hospice Patients' Oxycodone with Lookalike Pills 2026-09-23 · Fitchburg, MA · Long-term care
  2. Pittsfield Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Diverting Adderall from Pharmacy Chain 2026-09-17 · Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Retail pharmacy
  3. Former Boston-Area ICU Nurse Sentenced for Diverting Fentanyl and Versed from Intubated Patient 2026-01-15 · Needham, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  4. Massachusetts Hospice Nurse Indicted for Swapping Dementia Patient's Oxycodone with Household Cleaner 2025-11-02 · Amesbury, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  5. Traveling Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Morphine at Massachusetts Rehabilitation Facility 2025-04-04 · Danvers, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  6. Dedham Rehabilitation Center Nurse Tampered with Oxycodone Syringes 2024-09-17 · Dedham, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  7. Boston-Area ER Nurse Sentenced for 412 Unauthorized Opioid Withdrawals 2023-11-15 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  8. Massachusetts Nursing Home Nurse Sentenced for Diluting a Dementia Patient's Morphine 2023-01-13 · Northborough, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  9. Massachusetts Nurse Sentenced for Tampering With Fentanyl at Hospital and Surgery Center 2023-01-10 · Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  10. Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Diverting Opioids From Two Boston-Area Hospitals 2022-10-04 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  11. Massachusetts Paramedic Pleads Guilty to Tampering With Ambulance Fentanyl Vials 2022-08-30 · Needham, Massachusetts · Emergency services / EMS
  12. Worcester County Nursing Home Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering With a Dementia Patient's Morphine 2022-03-08 · Northborough, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  13. Massachusetts ER Nurse Tampered with Hydromorphone and Meperidine 2021-06-29 · West Boylston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  14. Lowell Nursing Home Nurse Diverted Hospice Patients' Liquid Morphine 2021-04-09 · Lowell, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  15. Westfield Nursing Facility Nurse Diluted Hospice Patient's Morphine 2021-03-30 · Westfield, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  16. VA Hospice Nurse Sentenced for Diluting Dying Veterans' Morphine 2021-02-24 · Bedford, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  17. Nursing Home Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Hospice Patient's Oxycodone 2020-10-02 · Dighton, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  18. Nurse Sentenced to 5 Years for Tampering with Hospice Patient's Morphine 2020-09-14 · Danvers / Amesbury, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  19. Haverhill Nurse Sentenced for Tampering with Hospice Patient's Morphine 2019-12-18 · Amesbury, Massachusetts · Long-term care
  20. Massachusetts Paramedic Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Ambulance Fentanyl 2017-06-22 · Rowley, Massachusetts · Emergency services / EMS
  21. Traveling nurse surrendered license after admitting to stealing fentanyl from Massachusetts hospital 2017 · Newburyport, MA · Hospital / health system
  22. Tufts Medical Center Pays $100,000 to Settle Controlled Substances Recordkeeping Violations 2016-09-20 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  23. Worcester Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Oxycodone from Nursing Home Patients 2015-11-05 · Worcester, Massachusetts · Other / not classified
  24. Massachusetts General Hospital Pays $2.3M in Drug Diversion Settlement 2015-09-28 · Boston, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system
  25. Psychiatric Hospital Settles Unregistered Methadone Clinic Allegations — Massachusetts, 2011 2011-09-27 · Georgetown, Massachusetts · Hospital / health system

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Disclaimer

Case summaries are based on public records (DOJ press releases, court documents, news reports). Charges are allegations unless a conviction is noted. Analysis is educational, not legal advice.

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