Drug diversion among healthcare workers is a critical yet often overlooked issue that jeopardizes patient safety, staff well-being, and organizational integrity. This presentation explores its prevalence, links to substance use disorder (SUD), and prevention strategies. Research highlights diversion rates among healthcare professionals and the proportion who develop SUD, mirroring community trends. Diversion often begins subtly but can escalate into unethical practices, impaired performance, and patient harm. Real-world cases underscore the severity: opioid thefts, compromised automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) profiles, and medication tampering. Victims include patients, colleagues, families, and organizations. Patients risk receiving substandard or contaminated medications, while staff endure investigations and emotional distress. Organizations face reputational damage and legal consequences. Despite these impacts, Canadian reporting and data remain limited, emphasizing the need for proactive measures. This session presents strategies to mitigate diversion through robust policy frameworks aligned with Health Canada legislation, ADC analytics, surveillance technologies, and audits. Cultural interventions are equally vital. Drawing on insights from the International Health Facility Diversion Association and collaborative policy development, we advocate for a systemic approach integrating technology, education, and compassionate leadership to foster safety, accountability, and staff recovery.
