CAHSS Faculty Articles
The "Black Box" of Prescription Drug Diversion
ORCID ID
0000-0003-4027-7840, 0000-0002-4716-3398, 0000-0002-7458-7815
ResearcherID
K-3072-2014, H-3010-2014
Publication Title
Journal of Addictive Diseases
ISSN
1055-0887
Publication Date
2009
Abstract
A variety of surveys and studies are examined in an effort to better understand the scope of prescription drug diversion and to determine whether there are consistent patterns of diversion among various populations of prescription drug abusers. Data are drawn from the RADARS System, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, the Delaware School Survey, and a series of quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in Miami, Florida. The data suggest that the major sources of diversion include drug dealers, friends and relatives, smugglers, pain patients, and the elderly, but these vary by the population being targeted. In all of the studies examined, the use of the Internet as a source for prescription drugs is insignificant. Little is known about where drug dealers are obtaining their supplies, and as such, prescription drug diversion is a "black box" requiring concentrated, systematic study.
DOI
10.1080/10550880903182986
Volume
28
Issue
4
First Page
332
Last Page
347
NSUWorks Citation
Inciardi, J. A., Surratt, H. L., Cicero, T. J., Kurtz, S. P., Martin, S. S., & Parrino, M. W. (2009). The "Black Box" of Prescription Drug Diversion. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 28 (4), 332-347. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550880903182986
