United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DETROIT – The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federation State of Medical Boards today hosted the Michigan Practitioner Diversion Awareness Training at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States and the state of Michigan has been plagued by a disheartening amount of prescription drug-related overdoses. This crisis is destroying communities throughout our nation and every day we see the impact that drug abuse has on our neighborhoods. The objective of the Michigan Practitioner Diversion Awareness Training is to provide information and tools to address prescription drug abuse and addiction. Along with illicit narcotic enforcement, the DEA is responsible for preventing, detecting, and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals. In addition to our regulatory efforts, DEA provides drug diversion education for practitioners and pharmaceutical companies to promote compliance. Today, participants of this training have been equipped with important information to help prevent prescription drug diversion as they collaborate with the DEA on this national issue.

Opening remarks for this training were given by the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Detroit Field Division Timothy J. Plancon, and United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Matthew Schneider. Instruction was provided by experts from the DEA, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, practitioners and others. Various topics were addressed including DEA’s Diversion Control mission, Michigan Automated Prescription Service and state legislative updates, health care fraud and diversion, electronic prescribing and addiction and medication–assisted treatment. Among today’s in-person and live stream sessions, approximately 1,000 of DEA’s nearly 53,000 Michigan registrants participated in this important event. The overwhelming attendance demonstrated a commitment from our medical community to improve the health and safety of our communities by reducing drug addiction and diversion.