In my position, I enjoy helping facilities implement best practices to reduce the potential for diversion. It’s rewarding to know that these changes can reduce the likelihood of major incidents.

Pharmacy technicians play an important role in diversion prevention as they are often uniquely positioned to identify troubling behavior and other diversion concerns. As healthcare faces an ongoing opioid pandemic, the skills needed to identify and prevent diversion are becoming even more important.  

In my position, I enjoy helping facilities implement best practices to reduce the potential for diversion. It’s rewarding to know that these changes can reduce the likelihood of major incidents.

Most of my current work is centered on teaching prevention techniques to facilities. I’ve also been involved in investigating actual diversions of large quantities taken to be sold on the streets. These diversion activities are a major issue and threat to public health.

Controlled substance diversion is an issue throughout the healthcare system: From the employer’s perspective, the best defense is a robust diversion prevention plan that prevents, detects, and addresses issues before they cause harm to patients, providers, or the greater community. PTCB’s Controlled Substance Diversion Prevention Certificate Program for technicians addresses the checks and balances and other techniques needed to tackle any type of diversion throughout the pharmacy setting.

PTCB’s program is a great way for technicians to learn best practices to deter and prevent diversion while developing the ability to successfully identify concerning behavior, investigate diversion once it has occurred, and respond accordingly. Hospitals and pharmacies around the country have employees who are responsible for these practices, which makes this role a great opportunity for technicians who are looking to further their pharmacy careers.