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Prescription drug abuse and addiction is one of the least understood, most under reported and disgraceful elements of our national drug problem. It is widespread but remains obscured by a cloak of respectability and there appears to be no stigma attached to prescription drug abuse.
The Drug Diversion Unit has the responsibility of investigating offenses that involve the illegal diversion of pharmaceutical drugs. This encompasses the investigation of forged and altered prescriptions, various prescriptions to obtain drugs, including "Doctor Shoppers", traffickers in prescription drugs, healthcare fraud and the diversion of prescription drugs by healthcare professionals in healthcare facilities.
This unit has one full-time investigator assigned plus two reserve officers, one is a clinical pharmacist at Duke and the other is the former Safety Director of UNC hospitals.
This Unit in cooperation with the DA has been instrumental in busting one of the largest forged prescription rings in the history of North Carolina. This unit continues to investigate leads that have resulted in numerous felony drug arrests. The conviction rate on arrests is 98%.
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