This program is composed of 300 prescription drug diversion investigators or regulatory agencies who are surveyed quarterly and asked to report the number of new diversion cases investigated in that quarter. Cases are defined as the number of new instances of pharmaceutical diversion reported to or investigated by the diversion unit or regulatory board during the previous quarter. These must be official cases initiated during the previous quarter. As such, only cases in which there is a new written complaint or report are included. Cases are assigned to the 3-digit ZIP code where the case occurred or, when the 3-digit ZIP code where the case occurred is unknown, are redistributed across the informant’s jurisdiction.

 

 

The study is conducted by Hilary Surratt, Ph.D. and Steve Kutrz, Ph.D. at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies, University of Delaware, in Coral Gables, FL. Other key study personnel include Yamika Stivers, B.A. (Project Director).