Hospital drug theft reports soar in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — A coalition of law enforcement and health officials says reports of drug thefts are soaring at Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes.

A report by the group finds the number of reported incidents in Minnesota has climbed from 24 in 2005 to 52 in 2010.

Experts say it's a reflection of a nationwide surge in prescription-drug abuse — in many cases by those who care for patients.

The Star Tribune (http://bit.ly/IlUY7u) says the report was released Wednesday by the Controlled Substance Diversion Coalition.

The coalition also created a toolkit with “100 best practices” to help facilities reduce the risk of drug theft. Those include surveillance cameras in “high-risk areas,” locking up prescription pads and training staff to “speak up” when they suspect someone is stealing

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Tags: news, health, crime, updates