MD Doctor's Opioid Arrest Prompts MDH Warning For Fentanyl Risk

BALTIMORE, MD — A Prince George's County doctor was indicted recently for selling opioids in exchange for cash, which prompted the Maryland Department of Health to warn patients about the access to pain medications.

Dr. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, 63, of Upper Marlboro, was arrested April 11 at his medical practice on 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids.

According to court documents, Okafor distributed oxycodone to people outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose from his medical practice in Washington, D.C. The federal indictment said Okafor performed only cursory evaluations of people, and solicited and received cash in the examination rooms of his clinic in exchange for opioid prescriptions.

If convicted, Okafor faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

The Maryland Department of Health issued a news release that Okafor's arrest may affect healthcare access for Marylanders.

When patients suddenly lose access to their healthcare provider, they may feel they have no other options but to turn to other sources of pills or drugs to avoid withdrawal, which may contain lethal substances, such as fentanyl, the agency said in its release.

"Getting medications from anywhere other than your pharmacist can be dangerous. People make and sell pills that look the same as the ones you get from the pharmacy and even experts have a hard time telling the difference," MDH said. "These pills often contain deadly substances like fentanyl, an opioid more than 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl can cause an accidental overdose. Always have naloxone (Narcan) nearby."

In the 12 months ending in November 2022, there were 11 percent fewer fatal overdoses in Maryland compared to the previous 12 months (decreasing from 2,797 to 2,489), the state's overdose data dashboard said. Fentanyl caused most of the overdose deaths in Maryland — 81.4 percent of all fatalities.

In the event of an overdose, call 911 immediately. Maryland’s “Good Samaritan” law protects you if you seek help for someone who is overdosing.

These resources offer tips to find treatment for mental and substance use disorders, where to access naloxone and other harm reduction services, and information about crisis helplines.

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, a Maryland suicide and behavioral health crisis hotline.
• Search for substance use treatment facilities through Findtreatment.gov
• Naloxone: Public Overdose Response Programs in Maryland supply naloxone and may be found using this list. You can also visit https://health.maryland.gov/pha/NALOXONE/Pages/Home.aspx to see a locator map. Naloxone may also be found in your local pharmacy and billed to insurance and Medicaid.

For more information and resources, see the patient information sheet.