September 29-30, 2018; Charleston Marriott Town Center – Charleston, West Virginia

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held a Practitioner Awareness Conference (PDAC) on September 29 & 30, 2018 in Charleston, West Virginia. 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.

Over 252, veterinarians, dentists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. 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, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, Prescriptions for Controlled Substances, Methods of Diversion and Effective Controls for Controlled Substances, State Medical Board, Inventories, Records, and Reports, Registration Issues, Disposal, Return of Patient Meds, and Options for Patients, Telemedicine, and Training & Resources.

Selected presentations from the Charleston, West Virginia 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, Unit Chief, Liaison Unit, Diversion Control Division, DEA

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) – Michael L. Goff, Executive Director & CSMP Administrator, West Virginia Board of Pharmacy

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, Unit Chief, Liaison Unit, Diversion Control Division, DEA

State Medical Board – Mark Spangler, Executive Director, West Virginia Board of Medicine

Inventories, Records, and Reports – Lynnette M. Wingert, Unit Chief, Policy Unit, 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 – Kathy L. Federico, Acting Section Chief, Regulatory Drafting Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA

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

Training & Resources – Kathy L. Federico, Acting Section Chief, Regulatory Drafting Section, Diversion Control Division, DEA