Skip to main content

Pharmaceutical Diversion

Meaning

Pharmaceutical diversion is the illegal or unauthorized channeling of legally manufactured prescription medications, particularly controlled substances or high-value hormonal agents, from legitimate distribution channels into the illicit marketplace. This process encompasses a range of activities, including prescription fraud, theft from pharmacies, and illegal distribution by patients or healthcare professionals. Diversion poses a serious threat to public health by fueling addiction, enabling illicit use, and compromising the integrity of the medical supply chain. In the context of hormonal health, it often involves anabolic steroids or growth hormone, which are misused for performance enhancement.