According to a study published by the healthcare analytics firm Protenus, over 47 million doses of medication were stolen by doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare workers in 2018. Opioids were involved in 94% of the incidents, with oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl the most common drugs stolen.
Stealing controlled substances prescribed to patients is easier than you might think.
Smaller healthcare facilities, like ambulatory surgery centers and veterinary clinics, often comply with regulations regarding the handling of controlled substances using paper logs and traditional keyed locks. These methods meet the standard of the law, but include few, if any, safeguards against the mishandling of prescription medication.
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