Drug diversion is a growing concern in the healthcare industry because controlled substances are high-value, easily concealed, and often addictive. When diversion occurs, it can put patients at risk, expose organizations to regulatory and legal consequences, and create long-term challenges for staffing and safety. Healthcare leaders are responsible for curbing drug diversion through stronger oversight, clear accountability standards, and a culture where concerns are identified and addressed early.
Effective diversion programs combine prevention and response, including defined policies, ongoing staff education, monitoring and analytics, and access to recovery support for clinicians. Below are a few of the best online resources for professionals working in drug diversion prevention and controlled substance management:
- Professional associations and diversion prevention networks
- Regulatory guidance and compliance resources
- Education, toolkits, and training programs for healthcare teams
1. ASHP
The American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) has developed a Controlled Substances Drug Diversion Pharmacy Technician Toolkit. The purpose of this toolkit is to provide additional resources for health care organizations working to implement a comprehensive programs. This resource is publicly accessible, however the community forums and other resources do require membership.
Individual, full membership is $335 per year
2. Healthcare Diversion Network
The Healthcare Diversion Network is a nonprofit resource that provides a platform for individuals to report drug diversion incidents. A publicly accessible visual map of events that have been reported across the country raise awareness of past drug diversion. The resources aid healthcare organizations by educating professionals on best practices to prevent future diversion.
No membership required.
Website: https://healthcarediversion.org/
3. IHFDA
The creators of International Health Facility Diversion Association (IHFDA) were originally members of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI). There are great resources available to network with other drug diversion professionals, including an active listserve and annual conferences. Other benefits are webinars and other industry news.
Individual, full membership is $150 per year.
Website: https://ihfda.org/
4. NADDI
The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators provides training and networking for a broad spectrum of drug diversion professionals, ranging from law enforcement to the healthcare industry. A member directory that can be segmented by specialization is a great feature. Also, the largest benefit is the learning library that is a mix of both webinars and courses.
Individual, full membership is $50 per year.
Website: https://www.naddi.org/
5. NABP
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) is focused on the proper management of pharmacy practices, including prevention or reduction of drug diversion. NABP Solutions was established to support pharmacies and the drug supply chain industry, with a focus on helping clients successfully achieve NABP credentialing and sustainable regulatory compliance.
No membership required.
Website: https://nabp.pharmacy/
This is not an exhaustive list of resources, however if you are new to the role as drug diversion professional or simply need to identify key resources to begin using for your role, these options would be a great place to start.