ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Joe’s Pharmacy of Peralta, New Mexico, has agreed to pay to the United States $50,000 representing civil penalties under Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The agreement settles civil claims against Joe’s Pharmacy arising from Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on-sight inspections on Aug. 7, 2018, and March 5, 2019, and the process by which Joe’s Pharmacy returned or reverse-distributed its controlled substances inventory following the March 5, 2019, inspection. Joe’s Pharmacy failed to account for 24,422 doses of controlled substances, a majority of which were opioid analgesics. The inspections also revealed 112 additional record-keeping violations and four dispensing violations. In the return process, Joe’s Pharmacy failed to account for 1,231 doses of controlled substances and 15 doses of listed chemicals.
“Pharmacies are on the front lines of preventing the abuse of opioids and other controlled substances in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “Pharmacies are responsible for ensuring that controlled substances are only dispensed through a valid prescription for legitimate medical purposes. The failure of a pharmacy to account for opioids and other controlled substances exposes New Mexicans to the risk that these substances will be diverted and abused.”
“Pharmacies, and all registrants, must do their part to ensure that prescription medications are not misused and abused,” said Greg Millard, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “Because we want safe and healthy communities, DEA will continue to utilize its regulatory oversight to ensure these entities comply with the rules set forth in the Controlled Substance Act.”
Assistant United States Attorney Sean Cunniff and Auditor Julie Chappell represented the United States in this matter.
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