A 65-year-old Wheelersburg woman is facing serious felony charges after a Scioto County Grand Jury indicted her on allegations, she repeatedly stole patients’ pain medication — and then covered her tracks with forged documentation.
The case highlights a growing national concern: healthcare workers diverting patient medications, particularly opioids, in a system already strained by staffing shortages and rising addiction rates.
🔎 What the Grand Jury Says Happened
Jacqueline L. Brumfield, 65, was indicted on:
- 9 counts of Theft of Drugs
- 9 counts of Aggravated Possession of Drugs
- Forgery
- Illegal Processing of Drug Documents
According to the indictment, investigators say Brumfield stole oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, on April 5 and April 10, 2023, while employed in a position that gave her access to pain medication.
Prosecutors allege she:
- “Knowingly obtained or exerted control over medication without consent”
- Diverted dangerous drugs intended for patients
- Possessed and used the controlled substances herself
- Falsified medical documentation to hide missing doses
- Altered or forged logs used to track administration of oxycodone
Forgery charges stem from allegations she entered false information into official medical records and medication logs — documentation that hospitals rely on to prevent overdose, diversion, or improper dosing.
Brumfield was issued a summons on December 3 and is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on January 7.
🩺 The Bigger Problem: Healthcare Worker Drug Diversion Is Rising
Unfortunately, this case isn’t an isolated incident. Nationwide, hospitals are reporting increased incidents of medication diversion by staff. Why?
- High stress, burnout, and long hours in the medical field
- Easy access to powerful pain meds
- An addiction crisis impacting every profession
- Understaffed facilities, making monitoring inconsistent
The risks to patients can be devastating:
- Not receiving much-needed pain medication
- Exposure to infections if tampered vials are reused
- Life-threatening dosing errors
- Loss of trust in healthcare systems
⚠️ Hospitals Take Diversion Seriously — Here’s Why
Hospitals now use:
- Automated medication-dispensing machines
- Barcode scanning
- Digital tracking
- Random audits
- Video surveillance
- Patient feedback systems
Even with these systems, diversion still happens — underscoring how complex and difficult these cases can be to detect.
👥 What Patients and Families Should Know
If you or a loved one receives regular pain medication in a medical facility:
🔹 Watch for these red flags
- Pain relief seems unusually delayed
- Medication doses skipped without explanation
- Staff appearing confused, impaired, or overly defensive
- Records that don’t match your recollection
🔹 What to do if you suspect something is wrong
- Speak to a charge nurse or nurse supervisor immediately.
- Ask for an explanation of medication timing and dosage.
- Document everything you notice.
- Request to speak with the hospital’s patient advocate.
- If necessary, report concerns to the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Patient medication safety is a fundamental right — and you will never get in trouble for asking questions.
💬 A Community Already Burdened
Scioto County continues to grapple with opioid issues on every level — from street drugs to prescription abuse. When medication diversion happens inside healthcare facilities, it hits the community even harder.
Brumfield will have the opportunity to defend herself in court.