DEA holding Pharmacy Diversion Awareness Conference in Florida

The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold 2 one-day regional conferences in West Palm Beach, Fla., next month in an effort to assist pharmacy personnel in identifying and responding to potential diversion activity.

The first Pharmacy Diversion Awareness Conference will be March 17 followed by a second session the next day.

DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator Joseph Rannazzisi said in a news release that “pharmacists and pharmacy employees are often the last line of defense in preventing diversion.”

Diversion of drugs has been a problem in Florida. A Cardinal Health distribution center and 2 CVS/pharmacy stores in Florida both recently obtained temporary restraining orders allowing them to sell or distribute controlled substances again after DEA ordered them to stop following allegations that some of their drugs were being diverted.

Each session is open to Florida pharmacy personnel (pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, or loss prevention personnel) who are employed by pharmacies or hospitals/clinics that are registered with DEA.

Details about the conference, as well as links to the conference agenda and online registration, are available on the DEA website. There is no fee to register.