Media coverage of controlled substance diversion through theft or loss.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of media reports of controlled substance diversion.

Design: Quantitative search of news articles from LexisNexis Academic, using search strings related to four different types of controlled substance diversion.

Setting: Not applicable.

Patients Or Participants: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Number of media reports about diversion of controlled substances at the prescriber or dispenser levels, through pharmacy robberies or thefts, and through hijackings or robberies of shipments.

Results: Media reports of controlled substance diversion indicate that theft and loss are important problems and that inappropriate prescribing and dispensing are substantial problems as well. Leaks of controlled substances from the closed system of distribution seem to be increasing as rapidly through theft and loss as through inappropriate prescribing and dispensing. During the five biennia between 1993 and 2002, these percentage increases in media reports were observed for the different types of diversion: 200% for prescribers; 350% for dispensers; 133% for pharmacy robberies and thefts; and 1,800% for thefts from shipping channels.

Conclusion: A balanced approach to the prevention of controlled substance diversion, aimed at reducing illicit acquisition of drugs from theft and loss as well as from prescribing and dispensing, may produce the greatest success without adversely affecting the quality of patient care.