Theft of Controlled Substances in Long-Term Care Homes: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmacology
• Criminology

Background:

• Theft of controlled substances is documented in various healthcare settings.
• Research on drug diversion specifically within long-term care homes remains limited.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding medication theft in assisted living and nursing homes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the prevalence and characteristics of drug diversion in long-term care facilities.
• To identify patterns in medication theft, including types of drugs, duration, and perpetrators.
• To examine the role of nursing staff and surveillance in drug diversion incidents.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 107 Minnesota Department of Health investigation reports (2013-2021) substantiated as drug diversion.
• Focus on incidents occurring in assisted living residences and nursing homes.
• Inclusion of data on stolen tablets, resident numbers, medication types, and staff involvement.

Main Results:

• 11,328.5 tablets were stolen from 368 residents.
• 97.5% of stolen medications were controlled substances.
• Average of over 30 tablets stolen per resident, with details on drug types, theft duration, and nurse involvement.

Conclusions:

• Drug diversion represents a form of elder mistreatment in long-term care settings.
• Findings underscore the need for heightened awareness and targeted interventions.
• The study calls for action to prevent and address medication theft in these vulnerable populations.