Most of the people who fill prescriptions are honest and do their job well. But some of those people in white smocks are thieves, drug addicts or both, our investigation found. In 13 cases over a decade, the public’s health was jeopardized by people with a history of substance abuse and theft allowed to hold a license to dispense drugs at pharmacies, our newsroom investigation found.
The newsroom’s investigation revealed that from 2003 to 2013, 16 pharmacists and 41 pharmacy technicians lost their licenses for pilfering drugs from pharmacy shelves or even from the patients whose prescriptions they filled. More than one-third of the prescription drugs stolen from Maine pharmacies are taken by employees. And according to industry experts, the pharmacy professionals who are caught for theft represent only a fraction of those who actually steal. Almost every Maine pharmacist and pharmacy technician caught and disciplined for stealing medications said they did it to feed their drug habit.
FEATURED STORY:
Behind the pharmacy counter: the unseen drug theft problem
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Some pharmacists get their licenses back despite history of drug abuse
Behind the pharmacy counter: the unseen drug theft problem