Content about Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK — Retail pharmacies, drug makers and law enforcement have a variety of methods used to fight organized crime, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has drawn up a list of best practices that pharmacies can use to keep stores, drugs, staff and customers safe.

 WASHINGTON — Walgreens on Thursday filed a suit against the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration over the agency's ban on Walgreens' distribution of controlled substances from a Florida facility, according to a report published by Bloomberg late Thursday evening. 

Walgreens charged that the DEA relied "on 'outdated data' involving oxycodone to justify suspending distribution of the drugs from its Jupiter, Florida, facility. [Walgreens] asked the court to lift the suspension order," the report read. 

 WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution naming October as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. The resolution was sponsored by Sens. Diane Feinstein, D.-Calif., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and urges communities to carry out programs and activities to educate parents and youth of the potential dangers associated with medicine abuse.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has submitted a statement to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, detailing chain pharmacy’s engagement in the prevention of prescription drug abuse, and its commitment to maintaining patients’ ready access to medications vital for pain management and for treatment regimens.

NACDS submitted its statement for the Caucus’ hearing on “Responding to the Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic.”

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Government authorities are working to educate independent pharmacy owners on prescription drug abuse, an independent pharmacy network said.

In an event sponsored by American Associated Pharmacies in San Diego, Drug Enforcement Administration deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Diversion Control Joseph Rannazzisi discussed topics related to prescription drug abuse. Rannazzisi explained how drug abusers divert prescription drugs through doctor shopping, forged prescriptions, theft and the Internet.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant-Carlisle will work with the Drug Enforcement Administration to sponsor several medication take-back events next month, the company said.

The chain, owned by Netherlands-based Royal Ahold and officially known as Giant Food Stores, will work with the DEA and local law enforcement agencies as part of the national drug take-back initiative on April 28, collecting unwanted medications at several of its stores.

NEW YORK — Cardinal Health can continue distributing controlled medications from a distribution center in Florida, according to published reports.

On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit put a stay on the Drug Enforcement Administration's order that had blocked Cardinal from shipping controlled substances from the Lakeland, Fla., center. The stay will last until the middle of the month, when Cardinal has to file its emergency motion, and the DEA has to file its response, according to the reports.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal court has turned down Cardinal Health's request for an injunction against the Drug Enforcement Administration's suspension of the its ability to ship controlled medications from one of its distribution centers, the company said Wednesday.

Reggie Walton, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled against Cardinal's request to enjoin the DEA from preventing the company from shipping controlled substances from the distribution center, in Lakeland, Fla.

NEW YORK — A senator from New York is proposing new regulations that would protect pharmacies from robberies, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., proposed stronger penalties and better security measures so that pharmacies could protect their drugs, following a pharmacy robbery on Long Island that resulted in the death of an off-duty federal agent.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant-Carlisle will sponsor several drug take-back events on Oct. 29, the company said.

Giant-Carlisle — the chain owned by Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold that comprises Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets — said it would work with local law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration to have the events at 29 stores in Pennsylvania. Medications will be accepted and destroyed at no cost to customers.


Dispensing narcotics and other highly abused prescription drugs, pharmacies have always been potential targets for robbery and burglary. But a series of violent crimes over the past year and a half — including the killing of a pharmacist, a teenage clerk and two customers in Medford, N.Y., in June, as well as the murders of a pharmacist in Trenton, N.J., and a store clerk in Sacramento, Calif. — have thrown a spotlight on the dangers faced by pharmacy workers and customers, and have galvanized public opinion for tougher laws.