Diversion Case Studies

Pharmacy technician diverted controlled substance from pharmacy (agreed board order)

A pharmacy technician was subject to a voluntary revocation by an agreed board order. The order lists diversion of a controlled substance from a pharmacy. The order also states the licensee developed an incapacity preventing practice as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee.

Pharmacy technician diverted controlled substance from pharmacy (default board order)

A pharmacy technician was subject to revocation by a default board order. The order lists diversion of a controlled substance from a pharmacy. The order also states the licensee developed an incapacity preventing practice as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee.

Pharmacy technician took controlled substances from pharmacy (default board order)

A pharmacy technician was subject to revocation by a default board order. The order states the licensee took controlled substances from the pharmacy. The order also states the licensee developed an incapacity preventing practice as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician trainee.

Birmingham-area nursing home nurse diverted hydrocodone tablets; pleaded guilty to theft

Birmingham, AL

A nurse employed at a Birmingham-area nursing home, responsible for distributing medication to residents, pleaded guilty to theft of property in the second degree. In July 2024, another nurse discovered hydrocodone tablets missing. An investigation found discrepancies involving over 100 hydrocodone tablets over approximately two months. The nurse received a 15-month suspended sentence.

Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and regulatory violations

The Nevada State Board of Nursing entered an Agreement for Probation with an advanced practice registered nurse during its reporting period of December 5, 2024 through February 3, 2025. The cited grounds were unprofessional conduct, diverting supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or unauthorized use, violation of state or federal nursing law or regulation, and departure from customary standards of practice. The published list does not describe the drug, setting or method of detection.

Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and improper delegation

An advanced practice registered nurse entered an Agreement for Probation with the Nevada State Board of Nursing during the period of December 5, 2024 through February 3, 2025. The Board cited unprofessional conduct, delegating licensed or certified functions to unqualified persons, diverting supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or unauthorized use, and departure from customary standards of practice. No details on the drug, setting or detection are given in the published list.

Nevada registered nurse reprimanded and ordered to continuing education for drug diversion

A registered nurse entered an Agreement for Reprimand and Continuing Education with the Nevada State Board of Nursing during the reporting period of December 5, 2024 through February 3, 2025. The Board cited unprofessional conduct, diverting supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or unauthorized use, and departure from customary standards of practice. The published list contains no information about the drug, the workplace or how the conduct was detected.

Nevada advanced practice nurse placed on probation for drug diversion and falsified records

The Nevada State Board of Nursing entered an Agreement for Probation with an advanced practice registered nurse during its December 5, 2024 through February 3, 2025 reporting period. The grounds included unprofessional conduct, diverting supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or unauthorized use, inaccurate recording or falsifying records, violation of state or federal nursing law or regulation, and departure from customary standards of practice. The published list does not describe the drug, setting or how the conduct was identified.

Elkin pharmacy ordered to pay $500,000 penalty and enjoined from filling red-flag opioid prescriptions

A federal court entered a consent decree requiring an Elkin pharmacy to pay a $500,000 penalty and enjoining the pharmacy and its pharmacists from dispensing controlled substances without steps to guard against abuse or diversion. The government's complaint alleged the defendants filled opioid prescriptions while disregarding red flags such as dangerous drug combinations, high-dose long-term opioids, apparent doctor or pharmacy shopping, and prescriptions from a prescriber the state medical board had barred from prescribing controlled substances. The claims remain allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Michigan Pharmacist Surrenders License Over Grand Blanc Drug Diversion

Grand Blanc, Michigan

A Michigan pharmacist in Grand Blanc voluntarily surrendered a license after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion, incompetence, and lack of good moral character as the basis for action.

Michigan Pharmacy Technician Fined and Probated Over Taylor Drug Diversion

Taylor, Michigan

A Michigan pharmacy technician in Taylor was fined and placed on probation upon reinstatement, with the license suspended, after the state licensing bureau's disciplinary action report cited drug diversion, incompetence, and lack of good moral character as the basis for action.

Registered nurse removed propofol from workplace for personal use

A registered nurse was accused of removing narcotic medication from her place of employment for personal use. Pharmacy audit records showed that multiple bottles of propofol were prematurely replaced and several bottles were unaccounted for. The nurse acknowledged removing medication from the facility for personal use to address sleeping issues and admitted the allegations; the license was placed on probation.

Registered nurse alleged to have diverted IV Dilaudid from a worksite an automated dispensing cabinet by logging it out and pocketing it

A registered nurse was alleged to have logged out IV Dilaudid but not administered or wasted it within an hour, placed logged-out IV Dilaudid in a pocket, and documented administering IV Dilaudid when it was not administered. The nurse neither admitted nor denied the allegations. The Board placed the nurse's RN license on probation for 24 months within 36 months, with monitoring and education conditions.