Narcotic Identification
School Name
Center for Advanced Technical Studies
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Engineering
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
This project is about the narcotic diversion, with specific that is occurring in hospitals. Narcotic diversion is the stealing or syphoning of drugs from reserves. Fentanyl is a highly sought after and addictive drug, sold for large amounts on the black market. The main problem with fentanyl diversion is caused by doctors, especially anesthesiologists who work with narcotics multiple times a day, with almost unlimited access. A survey of 260 anesthesiologists from the Medical College of Wisconsin graduating between 1958 and 1988 reported that 32 percent used drugs to “get high†and 15.8 percent had been drug dependent. (Medical college of Wisconsin) The optimal time for diversion to occur is at time of disposal, this is due to the fact that the only precautionary measure is notarized disposal. Notarized disposal is a procedure in which a nurse watches a doctor dispose the narcotic, and in the case of fentanyl a clear liquid, and co-signs saying that the doctor did actually dispose of the narcotic. The problem with this system is that in some cases, like fentanyl, the liquid is clear. My project looks to create an easy to use and safe apparatus that would create a contained, secluded, every day test environment to contain by products, and potentially hazardous reagent reactions. This is so that these preliminary reagents will be more viable in the OR setting, to potentially limit diversion.
Recommended Citation
Dixon, Alexander, "Narcotic Identification" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 237.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/237
Location
Lassiter 118
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Narcotic Identification
Lassiter 118
This project is about the narcotic diversion, with specific that is occurring in hospitals. Narcotic diversion is the stealing or syphoning of drugs from reserves. Fentanyl is a highly sought after and addictive drug, sold for large amounts on the black market. The main problem with fentanyl diversion is caused by doctors, especially anesthesiologists who work with narcotics multiple times a day, with almost unlimited access. A survey of 260 anesthesiologists from the Medical College of Wisconsin graduating between 1958 and 1988 reported that 32 percent used drugs to “get high†and 15.8 percent had been drug dependent. (Medical college of Wisconsin) The optimal time for diversion to occur is at time of disposal, this is due to the fact that the only precautionary measure is notarized disposal. Notarized disposal is a procedure in which a nurse watches a doctor dispose the narcotic, and in the case of fentanyl a clear liquid, and co-signs saying that the doctor did actually dispose of the narcotic. The problem with this system is that in some cases, like fentanyl, the liquid is clear. My project looks to create an easy to use and safe apparatus that would create a contained, secluded, every day test environment to contain by products, and potentially hazardous reagent reactions. This is so that these preliminary reagents will be more viable in the OR setting, to potentially limit diversion.
