Drug diversion is pain medication theft. And it is a growing problem in nursing homes today. Nursing home health care employees are actually stealing pain medications from the patients that they are in charge to care for. Stealing pain medication is definitely a type of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. Studies by healthcare organizations, such as the Mayo Clinic, have shown that drug diversion in nursing homes in Indiana is a serious problem. One nurse was charged with 11 criminal counts due to drug diversion. The nurse admitted to falsifying narcotic count sheets and taking tablets from prescription bottles. The nurse admitted to drug diversion and blamed his drug addiction on the theft. How did he do it? He stated that he just out the patient’s medication and then kept it for himself. Another nurse in Indiana was arrested by DEA agents for stealing medication from patients. She was charged with multiple felonies. The nurse was given three years in prison and then probation. Without a doubt, there are severe consequences if one is convicted of drug diversion in a nursing home.
Why Drug Diversion is so Common in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes set the stage for drug diversion. Without intending to, nursing homes create the perfect storm for drug diversion in their facilities. Pain medications are so common in nursing homes. Elderly patients need them and therefore, they are always around. In addition, over 80% of the workers in nursing homes have a prior conviction. This statistic was provided by the Health and Human Resource Department. And unfortunately, there is minimal supervision during medication administration. No one really knows if the patient received the medication ordered. Nursing home residents often have mental issues, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This makes it very difficult for patients to communicate that they did not receive their pain medication. Record falsification is too easy, and verification is difficult to do in a nursing home. These problems need to change.
Although drug addiction is often viewed as a victimless crime, it poses a definite threat to patients in nursing homes. Residents in nursing homes can be caused undue pain without getting their meds. The result can be mental stress on the patient. Plus, and impaired healthcare worker is unable to render proper and safe care to the patient, and with drug addiction on the rise and the rise of baby boomers in nursing homes, drug diversion is likely to get even worse in nursing homes. Drug diversion has been an increasing problem for a number of years now.
How Families Can Help
It’s tough for families to prove that medications have been stolen from their loved one. But there are a few things that families can do. Families can be on the lookout for damaged pain patches. It’s not uncommon for healthcare workers to take patches right off the patients. Another step that a family member can take is to be present during medication administration. This way, a family member can make certain that their loved one received the medication that they should. Another sign is if a loved one is experiencing unusual pain. This is another indication that they may not have received their pain medication. Family members can also be on the look for any impaired healthcare workers in the nursing home. It’s not uncommon for healthcare workers to continue working even though they are impaired. Slurring words, stumbling, and unusual conversation are all indicators that a healthcare worker may be under the influence of a drug. Any suspicions that there has been drug diversion should be reported to both the director of nursing and the facility administrator. Any senior citizen in a nursing home is entitled to receive proper medication for their condition.
Drug Diversion and the Law
Drug diversion is a crime. It often leads to criminal charges. Many states have their own federal investigating teams to fight drug diversion. When drug diversion is alleged, a special investigator is assigned to the case. The case may be assigned to the local police, the state police, or the attorney general’s office. Any results of the investigation are also sent to the state health licensing committee.
The DEA Office of Diversion Control was established to fight drug diversion against healthcare workers, including nursing homes. This organization works with the Department of Justice to indict healthcare professionals for drug diversion. Sometimes, undercover agents are sent to the nursing home to do the investigation. Statements are often taken from those involved. Typically, after the investigation, there is enough evidence to indict the person who committed drug diversion.
If you suspect nursing home negligence or nursing home drug diversion, turn to legal help from Attorney Roger Weinberg. There are many different types of nursing home neglect, and attorney Roger Weinberg has handled them all. Negligence in nursing homes includes medical malpractice, medical neglect, nutritional neglect, unsafe facility, drug diversion, and more. With medical neglect, your loved one may not be receiving the proper care. With medical malpractice, there may be mismanagement in medication. This is considered unsafe care. Nutritional neglect includes dietary deficiencies. Unsafe facilities include lice, soiled bedding, and dirty water. There may also be improper supervision where residents wander off and injured themselves or get lost.
Attorney Roger can assist you with any type of nursing home neglect. Healthcare workers themselves are required under law to report pacers of nursing home neglect, but if you suspect your loved one is the victim of nursing home neglect, you should take action immediately. Report it to your local department of human social services. We all are responsible for stopping nursing home neglect.
It’s important to understand that the elderly population is a vulnerable population. Often, they may lack the mental capacity official capacity to take care of themselves. Neglect deprives a vulnerable senior citizen of many things including, proper supervision, proper medical management, proper food, and or proper clothing.
Nursing home neglect has been a problem for many years now. It’s up to all of us to be aware of that and put it to an end. Our senior citizen population is to be cherished.
