WASHINGTON (AP) - January 12, 2009 The Justice Department said Monday that the nationwide drugstore
operator also has agreed to a new compliance plan with the Drug
Enforcement Administration and tighter monitoring of the
over-the-counter ingredients used to make methamphetamines.
Officials said a DEA investigation found many instances where
Rite Aid workers knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled
substances when it knew those prescriptions were not issued for a
legitimate medical reason.
Violations were found at Rite Aid pharmacies in California,
Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania
and Virginia.
At all 53 pharmacies investigated in those states, Rite Aid
failed to properly document whether the amount of the drugs ordered
were actually received, authorities said.
Rite Aid spokeswoman Ashley Flower said the company cooperated
with investigators.
"We have strengthened our existing compliance program and we
have retrained our pharmacy staff on these issues," she said.
The company, based in Camp Hill, Pa., operated 4,915 drugstores
as of last month.
Investigators found significant shortages or surpluses of the
most often abused drugs, including oxycodone and hydrocodone
products, in what they said was a "pattern of noncompliance" with
the Controlled Substances Act.
DEA Acting Administrator Michael Leonhart said the nation's
pharmacies "must play a major role in the fight against drug
abuse, so that together we can protect public health and keep our
communities safe."
Under the terms of the agreement with the government, the
company will conduct stricter electronic record-keeping to prevent
individuals from stocking up on illegal amounts of pseudoephedrine
and ephedrine by visiting different pharmacies.
Additionally, Rite Aid will audit the stockpiles of each
pharmacy, and physically count its supplies of drugs on the
controlled substances list more regularly.
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