Connecticut-Based Pharmacy Fined $150,000 In Federal Drug Probe

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A pharmacy that distributes drugs to health care facilities in the region has agreed to a six-figure fine as part of a federal investigation.

John Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian Boyle, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, announced Tuesday that Suburban Pharmacy of West Hartford, has agreed to pay pay a fine of $150,000 to resolve allegations that it violated civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.

Durham said the allegations against Suburban Pharmacy include claims that it failed to keep "complete and accurate records" regarding "the receipt and dispensing of controlled substances," and that it failed to "maintain effective controls against the diversion of controlled substances."

Suburban Pharmacy dispenses prescription drugs, including controlled substances, to approximately 200 long-term care centers, assisted living facilities, group homes, and other in-patient facilities.

In October 2018, the DEA commenced an investigation of Suburban Pharmacy following a reported loss of more than 6,000 dosage units of alprazolam 2mg, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

According to case records, an internal investigation indicated that employee theft likely contributed to the loss. The DEA then conducted an audit of Suburban Pharmacy's inventory of controlled substances, which revealed a total discrepancy of more than 22,000 doses of controlled substances, Durham said.

Federal authorities determined the discrepancy was due, in part, to "lax controls against diversion, and the failure to maintain accurate inventories of the controlled substances Suburban Pharmacy received, sold, dispensed, or otherwise disposed of."

Durham said the federal Controlled Substances Act, entities registered with the DEA who purchase, distribute, dispense, transfer or sell controlled substances must comply with strict inventory and documentation requirements. Regulations promulgated under the CSA require that each DEA registrant, including pharmacies, maintain complete and accurate records of each substance manufactured, received, sold, delivered, dispensed or otherwise disposed of by the registrant for two years, he said.

"These requirements play a vital role in ensuring the appropriate handling, accounting and distribution of controlled substances. It is no secret that there has been a tremendous amount of damage caused by prescription drug abuse in our state and across the country," Durham said.

Boyle said the settlement "demonstrates DEA's pledge to ensure that DEA registrants maintain the records required under the CSA and are able to account for all the controlled substances they purchase."