White Paper: Safeguard Against Medication Errors With Automated Dispensing Cabinets

Challenges
Diversion potential: While monitoring the proper use of all medications is important, monitoring controlled substances is one of the highest priorities. Statistics have shown an increased awareness and prevalence of controlled substance diversion. Data from the National Drug Intelligence Center shows that the estimated number of diverted controlled pharmaceutical drugs analyzed by state and local laboratories nationwide increased for most of the commonly diverted and abused prescription opioid pain relievers and benzodiazepines from 2003 through 2007. The highest percentage increases were for the prescription opioid pain relievers hydrocodone (118%), morphine (111%), and methadone (109%).1 Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, estimated that 8% of the population aged 12 years old or older used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey interview.