May 5 & 6, 2019; Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman Hotel & Conference Center – Norman, Oklahoma

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held a Practitioner Diversion Awareness Conference (PDAC) on May 5 & 6, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. This was a one-day conference, repeated on the second day, for the convenience of the practitioner community. The conference was developed and designed to address the growing problem of diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances throughout the United States. In addition to pharmacy robberies and thefts, pharmaceutical controlled substances are often diverted by way of forged prescriptions, doctor shoppers, or illegitimate prescriptions from rogue practitioners. The objective of this conference was to educate healthcare professionals on ways to address and respond to potential diversion activity.

There were 456 veterinarians, dentists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in attendance. The conference attendees received approximately seven hours of instruction on a variety of topics. The presentations included: The Opioid Epidemic and the Practice of Legitimate Medicine; Drugs of Abuse and Trends; State of Oklahoma Medical Board; Prescriptions for Controlled Substances; Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances; Oklahoma Health Professionals Program; Inventories, Records, and Reports; Registration Issues; Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients; Telemedicine; Training & Resources; and Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program.

Selected presentations from the Norman, Oklahoma PDAC are below.

The Opioid Epidemic and the Practice of Legitimate Medicine – James A. Arnold, Section Chief, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Drugs of Abuse and Trends – Scott A. Brinks, Staff Coordinator, Import/Export Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

State of Oklahoma Medical Board – Lyle R. Kelsey, MBA, CMBE, Executive Director, State of Oklahoma Medical Board

Prescriptions for Controlled Substances – Loren T. Miller, Section Chief, Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances – Scott A. Brinks, Staff Coordinator, Import/Export Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Oklahoma Health Professionals Program – Robert Westcott, M.D., Director, Oklahoma Health Professionals Program

Inventories, Records, and Reports – Marsha L.D. Ikner, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Registration Issues – Loren T. Miller, Section Chief, Policy Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients – Marsha L.D. Ikner, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Telemedicine – James A. Arnold, Section Chief, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Training & Resources – Aziz Elkholy, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program – Jessica McGuire, PhD, PMP Administrator, Oklahoma Prescription Monitoring Program