This isn't an isolated incident. Addiction rates among health professionals are the same as within the general public at large, but nurses and doctors have better access. Drug diversion is a huge problem.

Its not just the US. I was in the hospital in Canada two weeks ago and had a disturbing experience. Post-op, I was placed on 24 mg of hydromorphone per day. I'm convinced that I didn't receive a dose the first night but the night shift wrote down 3 mg administered. I awoke that morning clearheaded and in a lot of pain, with zero recollection of having been woken up to take any pills.

What can I say? I can't prove that my 3:00 am dose was diverted. But I was concerned enough to Google a bit. That self-same hospital had been reported to have a serious issue only two years ago, with up to 20% of opiates being diverted.

The problem is massive and largely unacknowledged.