November 4 & 5, 2019; Hilton Garden Inn – Columbia, Missouri

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held a Practitioner Diversion Awareness Conference (PDAC) on November 4 & 5, 2019 in Columbia, MO. 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 191 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; Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs; Prescriptions for Controlled Substances; Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances; MAOPS Physician Health Program; Inventories, Records, and Reports; Registration Issues; Disposal, Return of Patient Meds., and Options for Patients; Telemedicine; Training & Resources; and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

Selected presentations from the Columbia, Missouri PDAC are available below.

The Opioid Epidemic and the Practice of Legitimate Medicine – Aziz Elkholy, Acting Chief, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Drugs of Abuse and Trends – Paula Albert, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs – Michael R. Boeger, Administrator, Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

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

Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances – Aziz Elkholy, Acting Chief, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

MAOPS Physician Health Program – James L. Wieberg, LPC-Med., Associate Director, Capital Region Medical Center

Inventories, Records, and Reports – Paula Albert, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

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

Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients – Antonio Guzman, Associate Section Chief, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Telemedicine – Marsha Ikner, Staff Coordinator, Liaison Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Training & Resources – Antonio Guzman, Associate Section Chief, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program – Tara Robinson, PDMP Coordinator, St. Louis County Department of Public Health