Opioid theft at the VA
The Associated Press reports that VA medical and hospital administrative personnel are facing scrutiny because some controlled substances from Veteran facilities are ending up on the street rather than being used for the treatment of the nation’s military veterans;
It’s not clear if the problem is worse at the VA than at private facilities, where medical experts and law enforcement officials say drug theft is also increasingly common in a time of widespread opioid abuse in the U.S. But the VA gets special scrutiny from lawmakers and the public, given Americans’ esteem for ex-servicemembers served by the agency and because of past problems at the VA, especially a 2014 wait-time scandal in which some patients died.
“Those VA employees who are entrusted with serving our nation’s wounded, ill and injured veterans must be held to a higher standard,” said Joe Davis, spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars.
[…]
Reported incidents of drug losses or theft at federal hospitals jumped from 272 in 2009 to 2,926 in 2015, before dipping to 2,457 last year, according to DEA data obtained by AP. “Federal hospitals” include the VA’s more than 1,100 facilities as well as seven correctional hospitals and roughly 20 hospitals serving Indian tribes.
The inspector general’s office estimates there are nearly 100 open criminal probes involving theft or loss of VA controlled substances.
Of course, it’s just one more thing for newly confirmed VA Secretary David Shulkin as he assumes control of the system.
Thanks to OC for the link.
Category: Veterans' Affairs Department
They’ll sweep this shit under the rug but make a federal case (literally) about a guy hanging a poster of Mad Dog at his cubicle.
Fucking ass-backwards idiots.
There’s a special place in Hell for people who steal pain meds from those who need them.
After get get some “love” from the BTJT gang in the poundthemintheass lockup!
I have to wonder how many of those opioids that end up on the street were opiods that the VA refused to prescribe for patients with chronic pain, who formerly received them, in some cases for decades – but now can’t get them through the VA because the VA “wants them to try other options” for pain control.
I’m not joking. I know one such individual personally.
Now you know 2 Hondo 🙂
I have to go to a private Dr. to get my meds because the VA won’t give them to me, even after trying all their other “experiments” smdh…
The VA let me think my script was lost while they investigated a postal worker case. Even suggested I was selling them at one point. The postal worker was a veteran and got off easy due to some family connections. Not at all an uncommon path from the VA to the street or embedded user.
I get my scripts outside the VA now.
“It’s not clear if the problem is worse at the VA than at private facilities…”
REALLY? Please. That’s even a question? Considering the protocols in place at every private facility I use, I know inventory shrinkage still happens, to a very small degree. But, it’s your job, your license to practice and a felon charge if you’re caught. At the VA I am sure it’s the ‘wink and a nod’ protocol system of narcotic security and if caught, call the union rep and be on paid suspension until they find another place to hid them.
EVERYBODY gets a piss test. Only those already on leave may piss later. Everyone else? Show up, provide a specimen, or be fired. Yeah, I’m dreaming. So sue me.
No surprise at all. Given the VA’s inability to operate using anything that sane people would consider proper protocols for doing anything except give the people they serve (not only veterans but all the rest of us) a difficult time, it has never been a question of if this would surface by when. Really, the question has always been how long they could hide it.
The reclassification of Hydrocone/Oxtotin and other often prescribed opiods as a Schedule II a year or two ago drove the illegal use up a thousand fold.
Many people who were prescribed it for pain following accidents became addicted to it, and when Doctors were forced to cut back on prescribing it began to either go after it by getting it by any means necessary. It also revived the use of heroin.
The VA where I’m at sucks balls for pain management. I use medicare to get my pain meds and management and have been able to avoid high dose opiods.
That being said anyone with a bit of enterprise can get their dickskinners on oxy and sling it for 10-20 bucks a pill.
Thats why those who prescribe pain meds give piss tests… not only to make sure you dont over use, but to make sure you dont just sell it.