in the terminology of the united states drug enforcement administration, diversion is the use of prescription drugs for recreational purposes. the term comes from the "diverting" of the drugs from their original purposes. the drug enforcement administration employs diversion investigators to address these problems. drug diversion may also refer to programs available to first time drug law offenders, which "divert" offenders from the criminal justice system to a program of education and rehabilitation. ==drugs that are diverted== *opioids (including opium alkaloids) such as morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone (oxycontin) and codeine. *pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, used in illicit production of methamphetamine or methcathinone. ephedrine is also abused itself. *dextromethorphan (dxm), the active ingredient of cough medications like robitussin dm, is abused for its effects which are similar to ketamine and pcp. *non-opioid depressants, mainly benzodiazepines such as diazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam. *stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate. these have similar effects to cocaine and methamphetamine. *less commonly: benzydamine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, modafinil. the drug enforcement administration has implemented various measures against drug diversion in the united states. for example, retail sales of pseudoephedrine are limited in certain stores to specified amounts. in addition, several states have passed legislation requiring proof of identification and a written record of all pseudoephdrine sales. critics of the current policy on drug diversion claim that the problem is exacerbated by a lack of public knowledge regarding the abuse of prescription pharmaceuticals. in the recent florida case of rush limbaugh, who was accused of painkiller abuse, critics also argued that the line between pharmaceutical opiates and street opiate remains vague in current law. prescription painkillers can be stronger than the opiates, mostly heroin, which are sold as part of the illegal drug trade. while the purity of illegal opiates can vary widely, pharmaceutical manufacturing results in a uniform potency and benefits from government oversight, a factor which decreases the perceived danger of prescription pharmaceuticals. ==registration of drug suppliers and dispensers== 21 u.s.c. Â§ 823 of the controlled substances act provides for registration of manufacturers and distributors of controlled substances. the criteria for registering manufacturers of schedule i and ii drugs are particularly strict and call for "limiting the importation and bulk manufacture of such controlled substances to a number of establishments which can produce an adequate and uninterrupted supply of
Drug_control_law Illegal_drug_trade United_States_criminal_procedure