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Course Description

Course Number 20-745616

    Healthcare professionals who prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances need to be aware of best practice for prescribing of controlled substances as well as the potential for drug diversion. This course reviews best practices for prescribing of controlled substances, the causes and scope of drug diversion, some of the most commonly diverted drugs, how drugs are diverted, the typical profiles or drug diverters along with prevention strategies and reporting procedures. This course meets the requirements of West Virginia SB 437 § 30-1-7a for 3 contact hours.

  • Course Category | Public Health

  • Original Activity Release Date | 10/14/2019

  • Date of Most Recent Review | 10/14/2019

  • Next Review / Course Termination Date | 10/13/2022

Educational Goals & Learning Outcomes

     The goal of this course is to provide health care professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve patient outcomes, through the utilization of best prescribing practices and reduction of drug diversion, resulting in optimal patient care and increased patient safety. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • Interpret the epidemiology of drug diversion

  • Appraise the severity and impact of drug diversion

  • Categorize the drugs most commonly diverted

  • Distinguish various points at which drug diversion occurs

  • Interpret signs of drug diversion

  • Compare methods of preventing drug diversion

  • Illustrate the relationship between best prescribing and prevention of drug diversion

  • Differentiate types of pain and apply the basic principles of pain management in best prescribing

  • Categorize individual components of best prescribing

  • Support reporting requirements and penalties for drug diversion

About the Course Author(s)

Darren C. Leach, MSN, APRN, NP-C

    Darren C. Leach is a nurse practitioner and author. He is licensed as an APRN by the State of Florida and Certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. His professional experience ranges across the lifespan from infants to the elderly with positions in adult internal and emergency care, pediatric internal and emergency care, pediatric and neonatal intensive care as well as endocrinology and nephrology. He has also provided education to nurses, patients, and families in a variety of formats and settings. He received his Baccalaureate of Science degree in Nursing from the University of South Florida in 2005, and his Masters of Science degree in Family Health Nursing in 2010. Mr. Leach has authored numerous courses, including many for MedCEC. To view Mr. Leach's full bio click here.

Course Curriculum