Drug Diversion

Drug diversion puts patients at risk for healthcare-associated infections.

Published
November 24, 2024
Last updated
June 10, 2024

Drug Diversion

Drug diversion occurs when prescription medicines are obtained or used illegally. Healthcare providers who steal controlled substances such as opioids for their own use put patients at risk. This can result in several types of patient harm, including infections and outbreaks (e.g., involving hepatitis C virus or bacterial pathogens) if a provider has tampered with an injectable medication.

Resources, Guides, Reports, & Toolkits

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Featured New Updated

Drug Diversion Planning and Response Toolkit for State and Local Health Departments

By CTSE

This resource outlines best practices and resources to conduct diversion investigations, highlighting collaboration among public health, regulatory and law enforcement partners.

New Updated

CDC's Drug Diversion Webpage

By CDC

Learn about diversion-related outbreaks plus tools and guidance for prevention and response.

New Updated

Cluster of Sphingomonas paucimobilis Bacteremias Linked to Diversion of Intravenous Hydromorphone

By Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

This publication details an outbreak of Sphingomonas paucimobilis resulting from drug diversion in a cancer center.

New Updated

Hepatitis C Virus Potentially Transmitted by Opioid Drug Diversion from a Nurse - Washington, August 2017 - March 2018

By Journal

This publication details an outbreak of at least 12 HCV infections in patients who had received opioid injections from a nurse who admitted to diverting injectable narcotic drugs.

New Updated

Cluster of Sphingomonas paucimobilis Bacteremias Linked to Diversion of Intravenous Hydromorphone

By Journal

This publication details an outbreak of Sphingomonas paucimobilis resulting from drug diversion in a cancer center.

Drug Diversion Outbreak Reports & News