3 Edison Docs Among Those Who Overprescribed Painkillers, State Says

EDISON, NJ - Three physicians who practiced in Edison are among the 31 doctors statewide penalized for over-prescribing prescription painkillers, Attorney General Christopher Porrino said.

In an effort to rein in New Jersey's skyrocketing problem with heroin and opiate painkiller addiction, the state Attorney General's office released a final list of all 31 doctors in the state who had their license revoked, suspended or otherwise restricted in 2016. It was a record number of doctors, AG Porrino said. These doctors either over-prescribed narcotic painkillers — which are seriously addictive — or recklessly handed them out, he said.

The Edison doctors named by the state are:

• Chowdhury Azam of Edison: 5-year suspension, permanent ban of some CDS prescribing; costs – pending.
• Manoj Pathakar of Edison: Permanent revocation of both medical license and NJ CDS registration.
• Andrew Stoveken of Edison: Temporary suspension pending disposition of criminal charges.

“When four out of five new heroin users are getting their start by abusing prescription drugs, you have to attack the problem at ground zero - in irresponsibly run doctors’ offices,” Porrino said.

The entire list of all 31 doctors who were sanctioned can be found here.

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