[Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested

Fri Jun 19 12:04:21 EDT 2009

We had a "reputable" reverse distributor here in MN that told a pharmacy they'd take everything from their household pharm collection and manage it for free as a value added service.  Well, we know none of those pharms can be redistributed and a portion of them will be hazardous and a portion will be controlled substances.  I was disappointed at their lack of knowledge of the HW and DEA regulations.  The pharmacist is one I've worked with over the past few years and knew the regulatory issues and that the deal sounded too good to be true. She called and we clarified that the reverse distributor could not do that, but other pharmacists that are pretty comfortable with their RDs might not see a red flag here.  I think there is plenty of work that needs to be done to ensure that RDs understand the regulatory issues so they don't end up getting fined for acting as unpermitted RCRA transporters or facilities. It is definitely something to go over with those who are doing HH pharm collection in your states, we don't want this issue to cut us off at the knees as Allen notes.  

Another RD we looked at was doing the same basic thing--taking all, sorting and sewering what couldn't be legitimately redistributed.  They are doing a much better job now with some technical assistance.  I'm not sure how these entities are licensed, maybe through the state pharmacy board?  I'm going to check on that to see if we can get them some guidance because as far as I know we're 0 for 3 with these operations in MN.

________________________________

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us on behalf of Gilliam, Allen
Sent: Fri 6/19/2009 7:08 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Cc: Alvin Simmons; Gressitt, Stevan; mirelesmc at earthlink.net
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested

I've heard this is not uncommon even at some of the pharmacies who are
participating in a customer "take-back" program.  Many more stories like
this come out, the DEA's gonna put a tight plug on the legit programs, I
fear.

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jennifer
Crittenden
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:57 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Northfield owner arrested

Owner of Northfield drug disposal service now facing charges

Link:
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/45486592.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUgOa
hccyiUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhUs

The owner of a Northfield company that collects outdated, recalled or
excess pharmaceuticals has been indicted in federal court for allegedly
diverting prescription drugs for sale on the street.

Mark Andrew Goetz, 40, of Prior Lake, was charged Tuesday with illegally
distributing Xanax and OxyContin this year. The transactions, both
during sting operations, involved more than 1,600 tablets, the
indictment alleges.

Goetz owns Pharmaceutical Returns, a reverse distributor of controlled
substances that is authorized by the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) to collect the drugs and return them to the
companies for credit or destroy them at approved incinerators.

According to the indictment:

In January, members of the Metro Gang Strike Task Force learned that
Goetz was redirecting controlled substances to his drug customers just
before or shortly after scheduled destructions. Officers set up a sting
on Jan. 10 at Goetz's home involving 99 tablets of Xanax, an
anti-anxiety drug. A second "controlled purchase" of 1,274 tablets of
OxyContin, a painkiller, and 245 tablets of Xanax was conducted by the
DEA and the task force on May 6 in a south Minneapolis apartment parking
lot.

Goetz was stopped as he was leaving the parking lot; officers seized a
small amount of a controlled substance and a laptop computer.

Jennifer Crittenden, M.S.W.
Research Associate
UMaine Center on Aging
327 Camden Hall
25 Texas Ave.
Bangor, Maine 04401-4324
Telephone: 207-262-7923
Fax: 207-262-7921
E-mail:Jennifer.Crittenden at umit.maine.edu

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