Detecting drug diversion sooner: Wolters Kluwer survey highlights need for AI technology and cross-department collaboration

Key drug diversion detection survey findings:

The report, which reflects the perspectives of nurse leaders, pharmacists, risk managers and drug diversion program leaders, illuminates several key findings that point to how hospitals and health systems can improve existing programs.

Challenges persist—despite drug diversion detection program investments and updates

• Nearly all respondents have updated policies to meet evolving regulations, but gaps in enforcement remain.
• Four out of five (81%) respondents believe drug diversion incidents remain underreported.
• Only 33% of respondents are “very confident” in their program’s effectiveness.

Organizations aren’t realizing the full benefits of available drug diversion technology

• Current reliance on traditional, often manual, audits leaves room for undetected diversion.
• While only 40% of respondents use AI tools today, 76% express a desire to incorporate advanced analytics for better oversight.

Cultivating ownership across different functions is critical to address gaps

• Departments like anesthesiology and HR remain underrepresented despite being identified as critical stakeholders in effective diversion prevention.

• Only about a third of respondents say anesthesiology is represented in their drug diversion programs despite it being a major risk area.

• Full-Time Employee (FTE) commitment has grown significantly—most respondents only reported dedicating 0.25 FTEs in 2023 compared to three FTEs in 2025.

“If your diversion detection program isn’t turning up any suspicious cases or behavior, you may be missing something,” Kobelski continued. “With constantly changing behaviors and opportunities for diversion of high-risk medications to go undetected, organizations must stay vigilant and ensure they have the resources in place to extend beyond the limits of manual monitoring.”

To see more findings and insights from the fifth edition survey, read the full Wolters Kluwer State of Drug Diversion report.