Drug diversion is rampant in the United States, occurring in nearly every hospital and health system. We spoke with Tom Knight, the Founder and Chairman of HealthcareDiversion.org, the country’s collaborative network dedicated to helping healthcare organizations report and respond to drug diversion incidents since 2019. The non-profit enables anyone to report drug diversion, raise awareness of previous drug diversion, and educate organizations and individuals about the dangers, so we can stop this dangerous practice. Together, Knight believes we can strengthen public trust, safeguard resources and most importantly protect patients.
1. What does “drug diversion” mean, and why does it matter?
Drug diversion is when someone takes medication, usually something like painkillers, and uses it in a way it wasn’t meant to be used. This could be for personal use or to sell. In healthcare, that’s a big deal because it’s often staff like nurses or doctors who have direct access. It matters because it puts patients at risk, feeds into the ongoing opioid crisis and can even lead to the spread of diseases if someone tampers with the medication. Plus, it breaks down trust in the healthcare system, which affects everyone.
2. How can healthcare workers tell if drug diversion is happening at work?
It’s not always obvious, but there are red flags. If someone’s constantly handing out narcotics, working strange hours or their records don’t add up, those could be signs. Hospitals and pharmacies often use tools like security cameras, locked medication cabinets and tracking software to help catch issues. But even with technology, spotting diversion really depends on people paying attention, working together and knowing what to look for.
3. Why would anyone risk diverting drugs?
Sometimes it’s about stress, exhaustion or past struggles with addiction. People who work in healthcare often deal with long shifts, emotional pressure and easy access to powerful medications. That combination can be risky. And it’s not just one role—nurses, doctors, even pharmacy staff can be affected. Understanding the pressures they’re under is key to figuring out how to stop it before it starts.
4. What happens if someone is found to be diverting drugs?
Drug diversion can lead to serious consequences such as losing a job, legal trouble and in extreme cases, losing a medical license. In some places, there’s another option: “alternative-to-discipline” programs. These give people a chance to get treatment and sometimes return to work under close supervision. It’s a way to help people heal while still protecting patients.
5. What if I think someone I work with is diverting drugs?
If something doesn’t seem right, it’s important to speak up. That could mean going to a manager, reaching out to your compliance team or using a confidential reporting line. Every workplace has its own process, but the point is to act. Visit HealthcareDiversion.org if you’re not sure what to do. Anyone can submit their concerns anonymously. We forward some reported diversion to other agencies, and we only publish what we can verify. Detail is important—the more the better. Reporting might protect patients, and it could also be the first step in helping a co-worker who’s in real trouble.
So far 684 incidents have been reported through our site across all 50 states. We summarize each incident with the address facility and date. You can get a sense of how widespread the problem is by looking at our interactive map.
6. How do we improve the system and prevent diversion?
It takes openness and collaboration. Organizations need to report cases instead of just letting people go quietly. Educating staff on how to spot and report problems is also essential. A growing number of states are developing laws and programs focused on recovery rather than just punishment. The more healthcare facilities share what works, the better chance we all have of keeping patients safe and supporting people who need help.
We can’t do this alone. If you want to get involved, we can use your help. We need promotion, social media, research, copy editing and event support, just to name a few areas. Contact us and let’s talk about how we can work together. Our Advisory Board includes impressive individuals and institutions dedicated to reducing drug diversion in healthcare. We’ve got pharmacists, physicians, drug diversion leaders, hospital CEOs, industry associations and government agencies. Meetings are quarterly.
Join us. You can make a difference!
Tom Knight is the Founder and Chairman of HealthcareDiversion.org, a non-profit dedicated to exposing and combating drug diversion. The organization has built a national network for anyone to report, track and learn from diversion incidents.