Prescription Drug Misuse and Drug Diversion
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
In 2022, 16,416 prescription opioid overdose deaths were reported. This statistic exposes the importance of healthcare professionals remaining alert and assessing for the signs of substance use disorders and drug diversions. Clinicians should be aware of the behavioral characteristics and physical symptoms of a substance use disorder when prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring medications that are often misused. Systems, such as prescription drug monitoring programs, patient presentation, and patient responses to questions, can assist interprofessional teams in the identification of drug diversion and possible substance use disorders. Primary care professionals or specialists should be careful not to become too stringent when it comes to prescribing controlled substances so that patients who have legitimate medical needs are not denied adequate treatment.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Define prescription drug misuse
- Identify patient drug misuse signs and risk factors
- Describe common drug diversion tactics
- Prepare approaches to reduce misuse or diversion
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Prescription Drug Misuse: Definitions and Evolution
III. The Current Prescription Drug Misuse Problem
A. Overdose Deaths
B. Prevalence of Prescription Drug Misuse
IV. Signs of Prescription Drug Use Disorders and Misuse
A. Behavioral Signs
B. Physical Signs
C. Drug Diversion, Doctor Shopping, and Doctor Hopping
D. Drug Theft and Prescription Forgeries
V. Methods of Detecting Prescription Drug Misuse or Diversion
A. Identity Drugs Commonly Misused or Diverted
B. Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
C. Morphine Milligram Equivalents
D. Controlled Substance Prescribing Agreement and Drug Testing
VI. Controlling Prescription Drug Misuse without Denying Patients Proper Treatment
VII. Summary
From March 18, 2025 through March 18, 2028, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Kristina (Tia) Neu, Steven Malen, PharmD, MBA, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Kristina (Tia) Neu, Steven Malen, and Pamela Sardo have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.