The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants

Monday, April 9, 2012

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is continuing to attack pharmacies, including the largest pharmacy chains, with the recent investigation of a Walgreens distribution center and six Walgreens pharmacy stores in Florida.

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, the DEA issued inspection warrants to the Florida Walgreens distribution center and six pharmacies. According to the warrant, the DEA is investigating these Walgreens pharmacies in Florida to determine if the pharmacies are dispensing controlled substances outside the scope of their registration in violation of federal laws and regulation.

The warrant was filed in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and also stated that under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, a warrant may be issued for valid public interest and without the type of probable cause needed under criminal law.

The inspection warrants will allow DEA investigators to review pharmacy' records and receipts. The pharmacies are not required to stop selling controlled substances, which include painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, during the DEA's inspection.

The inspection of Walgreens' pharmacies in Florida is only one of the latest attacks against pharmacies and pain management clinics by the DEA. Earlier this year, the DEA suspended Cardinal Health's license to distribute controlled substances from one of its distribution centers in Florida. Two CVS pharmacies in Florida were also targeted by the DEA and suspended from selling controlled substances. Both companies are currently fighting the orders in court.
 
To read our previous blogs on the cases against Cardinal Health and CVS, click here.
 
To view the actual complaint filed by Cardinal Health against the DEA, click here.

If you own or work at a pharmacy or pain clinic, visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com to learn more about legal matters concerning pain management and prescribing.
 
4/9/2012

Comments:

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Thursday, July 12, 2012
cris dean says:

It is absurd to go through what legitimate patients have to go through just to get our medication. Pain is not fun and it isn't only physical it is very psychological to go through life with the loss of living a full active life that has been stripped from you in your 30's. That's not old that is middle age. It's depressing, and we pay the price for some people who have abused the health system. Where did all are tax dollars go to? I thought it was for a controlled data base which was suppose to help, fix, cure the problem it has gotten worse for the legitimate patients but has stopped the abusers I believe what was set out to be done about the illegitimate patients and doctors has been a success. Why is taxpayers' money still being used for more stipulations. Not one health insurance provider will write me a policy. I have tried to get state and government help and I am given the "we can't help you speech," so what is someone like myself who has to work through the agony to do ???

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Bob Marcus says:

DEA's actions are nothing short of tyranny against legitimate chronic pain patients who've been, in the not too distant past, getting their medications properly. DEA is taxpayer funded yet is allowed to punish those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in terrible physical plights. I challange any DEA agent to have such an incident requiring the medications you now deny to people who NEED them to survive. Our options are dim -- suicide at the worst and it's happening. I don't care if the criminal element wants to do themselves in via illegally obtaining such. The Florida loopholes need to be tightened, not stopping completely shipments of vital medications to the very people who depend on them for any quality of life at all. Republicans talk about less government intrusion. Well, DEA's actions are precisely the opposite. We can't get reasonable gun laws where madmen can shoot up movie theaters -- where guns have only one purpose -- to destroy -- but lifesaver

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Monday, October 1, 2012
mary says:

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ABUSE OXYCODONE AND OXYCOTIN. BUT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING RELIEF FROM THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE LEGITIMATE, WHY ARE WE BEING TARGETED. EVERY MONTH IT'S SUCH A HASSLE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WALK AROUND LIKE A ROBOT. I HAD NECK SURGERY THAT DIDN'T TURN OUT SO WELL. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH DONE TO MY NECK, THAT IT'S NOT FUNNY, NO STRENGTH IN MY ARMS, HORRIFIC HEADACHES AND EVEN HAVING THE NERVE ENDINGS IN MY NECK BURNED. NOW IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND I HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE SAME PROCEDURES AGAIN. I'M NOT GETTING ANY BETTER I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CRIPPLED IN 5 YEARS, WELL IT'S BEEN 2 YEARS AND GOING DOWN HILL FAST. YOU MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME AND OTHER PEOPLE TO GET SOME KIND OF RELIEF. THE DEA CAN SEE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THIS MEDICINE FOR ALONG TIME. HOW DARE THEY PUT A SUSPENSION ON GETTING THIS MEDICINE. IT'S EASIER TO BUY A GUN THEN IT IS TO GET MY MEDICINE. WHY DO MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE TO BE PUT THROUGH THIS. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT NOT ONLY YOU HA

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
E says:

I'm a 51 year old woman who's in severe chronic pain. I have lower back and neck pain. I have 2 MRI's that show the damage to my back and neck. I was referred to pain management 2 years ago, because primary care doctor wouldn't help me. I've been with same pain management center, submit to monthly drug tests, and always bring medications to every appointment so they can see I'm not abusing the medication. I filled my prescription at Walgreens for close go 2 years with no problems. Then in may of this year, I bring in my prescription for roxycodone, and I'm told " good luck with that"! I drove to over 30 pharmacies, and no one had the medication . I went to many other Walgreens, and was told " go back to your Walgreens". I was told we're out of that medication, I'm not comfortable filling this medication. We only have enough for our regular customers. I've never experienced the level of disrespect I experienced in the last last 6 months. I was made to feel like a criminal junkie. I'm

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Thursday, May 9, 2013
J says:

After 3 major car accidents, several horse accidents as a trainer for many years (the last sustaining a broken neck) combined with an undefined autoimmune disorder has not only labeled me disabled by the states of North Carolina and now Florida (since our return here 10 years ago) and I am in constant, chronic worsening pain the past 14 years. As a result, I am highly dependent on (note, NOT addicted to) my round-the-clock medications. I took a voluntary hiatus from all medications to include Tylenol at a couple of years into all of this, suspecting the medications were causing me more pain than there actually was. I had to quit working and lost a lot of quality time with my young children after 8 months off medications. In addition to severely worsening pain, elevated and abnormal blood work was highly concerning for my physicians who encouraged me to go back on medications (In NC, so NOT through Pain Management at that time, with a family physician). For the past 10 years back i

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Dave says:

I own a pharmacy and i think it is so unfair that the DEA want to run in the drug store and say u are selling to much narcotics or the insurance company's are cutting back on certain meds that normally cost a lot without insurance. because doctors are being threatin as well, so they are cutting back. now the problem is that other pharmacy and i are over stocked and loosing money. Now i'm not saying that it is millions but i dont wanna loose 1 doller in this business! Also i am not the one who is going to tell u that your doc has got u hooked or whatever of of certain drugs. My job is to make sure the doc and i plus the patients are is compliance with the law and fill them up and send them on there way. It is on the patient once they leave the property if he wants to break the law with whatever drug he uses!!!! Nice day and please stay safe.

Response to: The DEA Targets Florida Walgreens Pharmacies, Issues Inspection Warrants
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
The Health Law Firm says:

Dave, Thank you for sharing perspective as a pharmacy owner. We appreciate your insight.

Like this blog? Add your public comments:

Items in bold indicate required information.