ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — A federal court has issued a consent decree ordering Asheboro Drug to stop dispensing controlled substances and pay $300,000 in civil penalties following an investigation that found pharmacists filled prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Eagles of the Middle District of North Carolina issued the injunction, which prohibits the pharmacy from filling certain “red flag” prescriptions. The decree also requires the pharmacy to obtain documentation justifying any other controlled substance prescriptions before filling them.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Asheboro Drug and its pharmacists cooperated with the government’s investigation.
The investigation found that pharmacists dispensed dangerous drug combinations sought by drug abusers, filled high-dose opioid prescriptions on a long-term basis, and filled prescriptions for patients who appeared to have doctor-shopped for controlled substance prescriptions.
The pharmacy also dispensed identical or similar prescriptions to multiple family members, refilled prescriptions early without justification, and filled prescriptions from doctors with a pattern of writing suspicious orders, according to the complaint.
U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina said the settlement reflects the federal government’s commitment to combating opioid abuse in the state.
“Opioid addiction and abuse continue to devastate North Carolina communities,” Hairston said. “Pharmacists play a key role in preventing diversion of controlled substances, and they have a legal responsibility to ensure that the prescriptions they fill are legitimate. Our office will continue to pursue dispensers and prescribers who fail to live up to their obligations under the Controlled Substances Act.”
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