CVS To Pay $1.5M For Violating Controlled Substances Act On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY - CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve the investigation that certain of its pharmacy stores in Nassau and Suffolk counties violated the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

The Long Island stores were accused of failing to timely report the loss or theft of controlled substances, including hydrocodone, an opioid that is one of the most commonly diverted controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney said.

The CSA requires pharmacies, such as CVS, to timely report the loss or theft of controlled substances so that DEA can promptly investigate.

Officials did not state which CVS stores were involved in the investigation.

"The failure to promptly report the loss or theft of prescription drugs as required by law contributes to the opioid epidemic, which has caused devastating harm to individuals and our community,” US Attorney for the Eastern District of NY Richard Donoghue said. “The settlement with CVS demonstrates the resolve by this Office and the DEA to use all available tools to address this crisis at every level and reduce the availability of highly addictive, dangerous drugs."

Opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions throughout the country.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), an average of 46 Americans died every day from an overdose involving prescription opioids in 2016.

In response to the overwhelming number of prescriptions, and the increasing number of overdoses and deaths, two months ago the CDC issued new guidelines recommending that doctors prescribe less addictive and less powerful pain relievers before prescribing highly addictive drugs, and that they prescribe limited amounts.

This case is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York as part of the Prescription Drug Initiative.

In January 2012, officials launched the Initiative to mount a comprehensive response to the increase in opioid abuse.

To date, the Initiative has brought over 160 federal and local criminal prosecutions, including the prosecution of 22 health care professionals and has resulted in civil enforcement actions against a hospital, a pharmacy and a pharmacy chain, the removal of prescription authority from numerous doctors and the expansion of information sharing among enforcement agencies to better target and pursue drug traffickers.

"This year, it is estimated that more than two million Americans will suffer from opioid addiction," DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James Hunt. "Law enforcement, treatment professionals and educators are arming ourselves with strategies and actions to combat this growing crisis. This settlement is significant because it shows that big chain pharmacies, like CVS, are taking responsibility for violating federal law, which is a step in the right direction for curbing the opioid epidemic."

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