Prescription Drug Diversion: Predictors of Illicit Acquisition and Redistribution in Three U.S. Metropolitan Areas

Authors

Shana Harris, University of Central Florida
Valentina Nikulina, CUNY Queens CollegeFollow
Camila Gelpi-Acosta, CUNY La Guardia Community CollegeFollow
Cory Morton, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
Valerie Newsome, National Development and Research Institutes
Alana Gunn, Binghamton University
Heidi Hoefinger, Berkeley College
Ross Aikins, University of Pennsylvania
Vivian Smith, Cabrini College
Victoria Barry, Harlem Hospital Center
Martin J. Downing Jr., Public Health Solutions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2-2015

Abstract

Objective: Prescription drug diversion, the transfer of prescription drugs from lawful to unlawful channels for distribution or use, is a problem in the United States. Despite the pervasiveness of diversion, there are gaps in the literature regarding characteristics of individuals who participate in the illicit trade of prescription drugs. This study examines a range of predictors (e.g., demographics, prescription insurance coverage, perceived risk associated with prescription drug diversion) of membership in three distinct diverter groups: individuals who illicitly acquire prescription drugs, those who redistribute them, and those who engage in both behaviors.

Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional Internet 763 AIMS Public Health Volume 2, Issue 4, 762-783. study (N = 846) of prescription drug use and diversion patterns in New York City, South Florida, and Washington, D.C.. Participants were classified into diversion categories based on their self-reported involvement in the trade of prescription drugs. Group differences in background characteristics of diverter groups were assessed by Chi-Square tests and followed up with multivariate logistic regressions.

Results: While individuals in all diversion groups were more likely to be younger and have a licit prescription for any of the assessed drugs in the past year than those who did not divert, individuals who both acquire and redistribute are more likely to live in New York City, not have prescription insurance coverage, and perceive fewer legal risks of prescription drug diversion.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that predictive characteristics vary according to diverter group.

Comments

This article was originally published in AIMS Public Health, available at DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2015.4.762.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License/