Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) | The Health Law Firm Blog

Nation Rx Drug Abuse Summit Held in Central Florida-Leaders Share Struggles and Triumphs in “War Against Prescription Drugs”

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

From April 2 through April 4, 2013, the country’s leading experts on the prescription drug epidemic met in Central Florida for the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, according to the Orlando Sentinel. National leaders including the White House drug czar, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner and Florida’s Attorney General (AG) shared ongoing challenges and strides each department has made in its fight against prescription drugs.

Good News in the War Against Prescription Drugs.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) stated in its semi-annual report that oxycodone-related deaths statewide dropped between January and June of 2012, compared to the same period of time in 2011. In the first half of 2012, there were […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:39-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law, Trafficking Prescription Painkillers|Tags: accidental overdose, administrative hearings, administrative law attorney, administrative law lawyer, controlled substances, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Department of Health (DOH), doctor, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Florida health care lawyer, Florida health law attorney, Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG), Florida prescription drug abuse, Florida prescription drug crackdown, legal defense for doctors, legal defense for physicians, legal representation for doctors, legal representation for physicians, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), Medical negligence, opioid misuse, opioid use, oxycodone, pain management, pain pills, pharmacists, physician, physicians, pill mill, pill mill laws, prescription drug trafficking, prescription pain pill, prescriptions|Comments Off

It’s Always a Bad Idea For Mental Health Professionals To…

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In my 30 plus years of practice representing physicians, dentists, nurses and mental health professionals, I have defended clients involved in many different situations. Several of these seem to be problem areas which we see repeatedly.

Following is a list of those problems which it would seem to be common sense for a mental health professional or other health care professional to avoid doing. If you do any of these you can rest assured that you will eventually be confronted with charges and an investigation by your state licensing board, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), your national certification board, any facility at which you have privileges and other law enforcement agencies.

I can assure you, it is always a bad idea for a mental health professional or other […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:15-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Mental Health Law Blog|Tags: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), investigation by state licensing board, Items health care professionals should avoid doing, legal representation, licensure defense for health care professionals|Comments Off

Crackdown in the Supply of Prescription Medications Drive Floridians to Heroin

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

For the past three years, Florida lawmakers and officials have waged war against prescription drug abuse. At the peak of the pill abuse epidemic, seven people a day reportedly died of a prescription drug overdose in Florida. As the Sunshine State became known as painkiller capital of America, officials worked quickly to enact legislation against prescription drugs, develop and monitor the statewide prescription drug monitoring database, and crackdown on prescription drug abusers and pill mills. Flash forward to summer 2013, prescription pills are harder to come by and more expensive, therefore making them less appealing to addicts. However, that does not mean the war is over. Now addicts are finding their replacement fix in heroin, according to the Miami Herald.

Click here to read […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:39-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pain Management, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Trafficking Prescription Painkillers|Tags: controlled substances, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Department of Health (DOH), doctor, drug addiction, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Florida drug addiction, Florida health care lawyer, Florida health law attorney, Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG), florida pill mills, Florida prescription drug abuse, Florida prescription drug crackdown, heroin, legal defense for doctors, legal defense for physicians, legal representation for doctors, legal representation for physicians, opioid misuse, opioid use, oxycodone, pain management, pain pills, pharmacists, physician, physicians, pill mill bust, pill mill laws, pill mills, prescription drug crackdown, prescription drug trafficking, prescription drugs, prescription pain pill, prescription pills, prescriptions, the health law firm|1 Comment

CVS Blacklists Second Set of Doctors Accused of Overprescribing Painkillers

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

CVS is again stepping up its own internal efforts to combat the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic. According to Reuters, the second largest retail pharmacy chain announced it is cutting off access to the most powerful painkillers for more than 36 doctors and health care providers around the country. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been keeping a close eye on CVS over the past few years. According to Reuters, CVS began revoking the dispensing privileges of certain providers back in 2011. CVS disclosed this round of suspensions on August 21, 2013.

To read the article from Reuters, click here.

CVS Closely Analyzed Prescription Practices of Health Care Providers Before Suspending Dispensing Privileges.

CVS said the suspension followed an analysis of prescriptions brought to its drugstores […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:40-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacist, Pharmacy|Tags: administrative hearings, blacklisted, controlled substance licenses, controlled substances, CVS, CVS pharmacy, DEA investigation, DEA raid, defense attorney, defense lawyer, doctor, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), emergency suspension order, healthcare providers, painkiller, pharmacist, pharmacist attorney, pharmacist lawyer, pharmacy, pharmacy investigation, physician attorney, physician lawyer, physicians, prescribing practices, prescription drug trafficking, registration, revoked license, the health law firm|Comments Off

Two Florida Doctors Convicted of Money Laundering Stemming from Pill Mill Operation in Broward and Palm Beach Counties

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Two South Florida doctors faced life in prison and fines up to $2 million each because nine (9) of their patients allegedly died of drug overdoses, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). However, on July 30, 2013, a jury acquitted Cynthia Cadet, M.D., and Joseph Castronuovo, M.D., of causing the deaths of their patients. The doctors were convicted of money laundering for their role in a conspiracy involving the chain of pain clinics they worked at, according to the DEA. The doctors still face up to ten (10) years in jail for the money laundering charges, as well as forfeiture of the money made while working at the clinics. Sentencing for the doctors is set for November 4, 2013, according to the DEA.

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DEA Offers New Prescription Drug Return Policy

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Looking to improve the prescription drug abuse epidemic in the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced September 8, 2014, that it would permit patients to return their unused prescription medications to pharmacies. This new rule, covering all types of prescription drugs, will give patients the option of mailing unused prescriptions to an authorized collector using packaging provided by the pharmacy.

Hopefully this will help to eliminate many of the problematic situations that pharmacists and physicians found themselves in when they accumulated returned or unused medications from patients for destruction.

This move intends to address the rising number of injuries and deaths associated with controlled substance drugs, particularly opioids. Reducing the stockpile of unneeded prescription drugs from American homes will limit teenagers’ accessibility to their […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:40-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pain Management, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|Tags: controlled substance, controlled substance abuse, Controlled Substance Act, defense attorney, defense lawyer, drug abuse, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FDA, Food and Drug Administration, health law, hospital pharmacy, medication, medication returns, opiods, pharmaceutical drugs, pharmacist attorney, pharmacist lawyer, pharmacy, prescription, prescription drug abuse, prescription drug returns, prescription drugs, prescription returns, retail pharmacy, unused medication, unused pills|Comments Off

It is Always a Bad Idea For a Dentist To…

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In my 30 plus years of practice representing physicians, dentists, nurses and psychotherapists, I have defended clients involved in many different situations. Several of these seem to be problem areas which we see repeatedly.

Following is a list of those problems which it would seem to be common sense for a dentist or other health care professional to avoid doing. If you do any of these you can rest assured that you will eventually be confronted with charges and an investigation by your state licensing board, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), your national certification board, any facility at which you have privileges and other law enforcement agencies.

I can assure you, it is always a bad idea for a dentist or other health care professional to:

1. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:45-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Dental Law Blog|Tags: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), investigation by state licensing board, Items health care professionals should avoid doing, legal representation, licensure defense for health care professionals|Comments Off

Massage Therapists: Beware of Nationwide Telephone Prescription Drug Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning massage therapists to be aware of a prescription drug scam. This telephone scheme is extorting money from people all over the country. On November 28, 2012, the DEA released a press release explaining the details of the scam.

Don’t Give Money to Criminals Over the Phone.

The scam starts with criminals posing as DEA agents calling victims by telephone. Frequently the victims will have recently purchased prescription drugs over the internet or by phone. The imposters tell the victims that purchasing the drugs in that manner is illegal, and that they must pay a fine. If the victims refuse to send money, the phony DEA agents threaten to arrest the victims or search their property. Some of the victims […]

Psychologists: Don’t Fall Victim to Scammers that Call and Claim to be DEA Agents

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning psychologists to be aware of a prescription drug scam. This telephone scheme is extorting money from people all over the country. On November 28, 2012, the DEA released a press release explaining the details of the scam.

Details of the Scam.

The scam starts with criminals posing as DEA agents calling victims by telephone. Frequently the victims will have recently purchased prescription drugs over the internet or by phone. The imposters tell the victims that purchasing the drugs in that manner is illegal, and that they must pay a fine. If the victims refuse to send money, the phony DEA agents threaten to arrest the victims or search their property. Some of the victims have also reported unauthorized use of […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:50-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Clinical Social Worker, Department of Health, Intern, Marital and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Psychology, Resident|Tags: clinical social workers, controlled substance purchases online, DEA agents, DEA investigation, defense attorney, defense for psychologists, defense lawyer, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), drug purchases on the telephone, extortion scam, HIPAA Privacy Complaint, interns, marital and family therapists, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), online drug purchase, pharmacies, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription-drug scam, psychologist, psychology, representation of psychologists, residents, scam alert|Comments Off

Dentists: Beware of Nationwide Telephone Prescription Drug Scam – Callers Claim to be DEA Agents

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning dentists to be aware of a prescription drug scam. This telephone scheme is extorting money from people all over the country. On November 28, 2012, the DEA released a press release explaining the details of the scam.

Be Wary of Criminals Asking for Money Over the Phone.

The scam starts with criminals posing as DEA agents calling victims by telephone. Frequently the victims will have recently purchased prescription drugs over the internet or by phone. The imposters tell the victims that purchasing the drugs in that manner is illegal, and that they must pay a fine. If the victims refuse to send money, the phony DEA agents threaten to arrest the victims or search their property. Some of the victims have […]