Taylor Drug Store, a Pineville, Kentucky pharmacy, has decided to pay the price for a sloppy recordkeeping habit. The store agreed to shell out $94,432.50 in civil penalties to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Taylor Drug Store’s records did not account for the dispensation or disposal of over 4,500 dosage units of highly addictive substances, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, buprenorphine, and alprazolam, from August 2019 to August 2021. The alleged violations occurred in the Eastern District of Kentucky, where the harsh realities of the opioid crisis are all too real.
“These procedures are critical to public safety and pharmacies simply must keep track of these controlled substances,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Especially in areas like ours, that are acutely affected by severe drug abuse, these recordkeeping requirements play an essential role in ensuring that controlled substances maintained by pharmacies are not ultimately diverted for illegitimate purposes.”
The DEA and Taylor Drug Store also entered into a Memorandum of Agreement as part of the settlement. The pharmacy agreed to submit compliance reports to DEA and to provide employee training on the identification and reporting of suspected drug abuse or diversion. The settlement considered the penalties associated with the alleged violations, as well as Taylor Drug Store’s financial ability-to-pay.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s London Resident Office Diversion Group. Assistant United States Attorney Katie Sheridan represented the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
As the federal government continues to crack down on the prescription opioid crisis, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to the recordkeeping requirements of the CSA. The DEA urges anyone with concerns about prescription drug diversion to report them by submitting a tip at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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