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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>According to the article, the Lake Arrowhead Village, CA
pharmacist, “had taken the pills-which she said had been returned to her by
customers who no longer needed them-to her home to inventory them at the
direction of state regulators before having them destroyed, she said.” FYI, I
don’t see any Lake Arrowhead Village pharmacies on our list of model programs
following our voluntary California model program guidelines (<a
href="http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Medications/ModelProgram/Criteria.pdf">http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Medications/ModelProgram/Criteria.pdf</a>)
which certainly would not allow a pharmacist to take the drugs home let alone
touch them. I also don’t even see that a Lake Arrowhead Village pharmacy was
ever in our database of collection sites period (<a
href="http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/HealthCare/Collection/">http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/HealthCare/Collection/</a>).
It reminds me of the Edmonds, WA Pharmacy “Manager of the Year” (<a
href="http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2008/seattle110408.html">http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2008/seattle110408.html</a>)
who was collecting unused drugs but wasn’t part of Washington State’s PH:ARM program.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>As long as we have no official unused pharma collection regulations,
I think we’re going to continue to see cases like this since any pharmacy could
start collecting under any circumstance and the public has no way of knowing if
it’s secure or not. At least our State Board of Pharmacy’s newsletter has said
they expect all pharmacies to use our model program guidelines for any “Take Back”
program they offer the public. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Mr. Burke Lucy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Integrated Waste Management Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>1001 I Street, PO Box 4025<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Sacramento, CA 95812<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Burke.Lucy@CalRecycle.ca.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>916.324.6848</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Matthew
C. Mireles<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:14 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Gilliam,Allen; 'Stevan Gressitt'; pharmwaste<br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: [RxNews] Pharmacist faces drug charges,
California<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>No
organization or organized program involved with medicines is immuned to greed,
corruption and downright stupidity. I believe last year, the president of
a well-known reverse distribution company was also arrested and prosecuted for
pilfering controlled substances from his own collection. Get on the DEA
listserv and learn the many stories of drug diversion by healthcare
professionals (docs, nurses, pharmacists). Even in clinical
settings, we have to carefully monitor our drugs because our
own residents and staff were stealing them. The worst case was
catching our O.R. personnel fishing out partially used syringes with morphine
from sharps containers so they can inject themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>BTW,
did anyone vote for legalizing marijuana?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 3.0pt;
margin-left:0in;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>-----Original Message----- <br>
From: "Gilliam, Allen" <br>
Sent: Oct 28, 2010 12:08 PM <br>
To: 'Stevan Gressitt' , pharmwaste <br>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fwd: [RxNews] Pharmacist faces drug charges,
California <br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>'ell of a good take back program she had! just missed a few
regulatory steps it appears....GO Laurie, go!</span><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b>From:</b> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Stevan
Gressitt<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:42 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> pharmwaste<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Fwd: [RxNews] Pharmacist faces drug charges,
California</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><br clear=all>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Stevan Gressitt, M.D.<br>
Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging<br>
Academic Member, Athens Institute for Education and Research<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Athens, Greece<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical
Safety<br>
University of New England, College of Pharmacy<br>
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences <br>
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry<br>
University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine<br>
716 Stevens Avenue <br>
Portland, Maine 04103<br>
<a href="mailto:gressitt@gmail.com" target="_blank">gressitt@gmail.com</a>
<br>
Cell: 207-441-0291 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://www.benzos.une.edu/" target="_blank">www.benzos.une.edu</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a
href="http://www.safemeddisposal.com/" target="_blank">www.safemeddisposal.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>---------- Forwarded message
----------<br>
From: <<a href="mailto:MudriAssociates@aol.com">MudriAssociates@aol.com</a>><br>
Date: Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 12:00 PM<br>
Subject: [RxNews] Pharmacist faces drug charges, California<br>
To: <a href="mailto:rxnews@listserve.com">rxnews@listserve.com</a><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>Pharmacist Faces Drug Charges <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>By
Glenn Barr<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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mso-element-top:middle;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>More
than a year after her arrest on drug-possession charges, Lake Arrowhead Village
pharmacist Michelle Lynne Blain has been formally charged with four felonies, a
prosecutor for District Attorney Michael A. Ramos said Tuesday.<br>
<br>
In a complaint filed Oct. 21, Deputy District Attorney Rebeca Hynds charges the
49-year-old business owner with four counts of possession for sale of a
controlled substance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The
charges stem from her arrest in her Cedar Ridge Estates home on Oct. 15, 2009.
Investigators doing a parole check on her boyfriend, thrice-convicted bank
robber Robert Flory, reported finding more than 20,000 prescription pills in
plastic bags stored in her garage.<br>
<br>
A spokesperson for the California Board of Pharmacy said at the time that while
it is legal for a pharmacist to have such medications on the premises of a
pharmacy, it is unlawful to have them at home unless the pharmacist has a
prescription for them.<br>
<br>
Flory was also arrested but was later released. He died on Sept. 5 at Mountains
Community Hospital after Blain called 9-1-1 from her home to report he was
unresponsive.<br>
<br>
Sheriff's investigators have said they suspect painkillers may have contributed
to the death of the former University of Arizona football star. In an interview
last year, Flory told The Mountain News he suffered from acute back pain from
football injuries, and had robbed banks to get money to buy drugs to control
it.<br>
<br>
eight<br>
<br>
postponements<br>
<br>
After eight scheduled arraignments were postponed, dating back to last
December, Blain is now scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 1 before Judge
Annemarie G. Pace, according to court records. She remains free, and operating
the pharmacy, on the $60,000 bail she posted a year ago.<br>
<br>
The postponements were credited in court records to the continuing nature of
the investigation. Hynds said the delay might have been caused by the fact that
"there were multiple agencies investigating the case."<br>
<br>
In addition to sheriff's narcotics detectives probing the drug seizure, federal
drug enforcement agents have reportedly been investigating a nationwide
drug-trafficking case, though DEA officials have refused to comment on the
status of their investigation or its details.<br>
<br>
The third agency, the state board of pharmacy, has brought administrative
charges against Blain. They include fines of nearly $9 million and the prospect
of the revocation of her license.<br>
<br>
Blain was also interviewed by authorities in connection with Flory's death,
though sheriff's homicide investigators have yet to state whether she is
considered a suspect. Autopsy reports on that case have yet to be completed.<br>
<br>
When contacted following her arrest last October, Blain told The Mountain News
she had been involved in Internet sales of prescription pills in an effort to
compete with large pharmaceutical outlets that sell at lower prices, but had
stopped that practice at the direction of the state pharmacy board.<br>
<br>
She had taken the pills-which she said had been returned to her by customers
who no longer needed them-to her home to inventory them at the direction of
state regulators before having them destroyed, she said.<br>
<br>
'no comment'<br>
<br>
On Tuesday, however, Blain declined to discuss the charges against her. When
offered the chance to state her side of the case, she curtly replied, "No
comment. Talk to my lawyer."<br>
<br>
San Bernardino defense attorney Greg Kassel did not return a call seeking
information about the case.<br>
<br>
In the criminal complaint against Blain, Hynds lists four separate counts. The
first, an alleged violation of Health and Safety Code Section 11375(b), Blain
purportedly "did unlawfully possess for sale a designated controlled
substance, to wit, Alprazolam."<br>
<br>
According to Internet websites, alprazolam, whose trade name is Xanax, is used
to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.<br>
<br>
The second count cites the possession for sale of atropine sulfate with
diphenoxylate, described on the National Institute of Health website as an
anti-diarrheal.<br>
<br>
The third count involves possession for sale of zolpidem, which treats
insomnia, while the fourth charges her with possession for sale of phentermine,
an appetite suppressant used for weight loss.<br>
<br>
According to provisions in the Health and Safety Code, conviction on all
charges could translate to as much as 15 years in state prison, if the highest
level of confinement were ordered by a judge and the sentences ran
consecutively. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Mudri Associates Inc<br>
dba ADEA Consultancy<br>
257 Seagate Ct.<br>
Dunedin, Florida 34698<br>
Office: 727-260-7990 fax: 727-733-8176<br>
Cell: 813-293-6402<br>
<br>
P.O. Box 2513<br>
Banner Elk, N Carolinia 28604<br>
Phone: 727-260-7990 VOIP, 828-898-3600 Land Line<br>
<br>
</span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>Consultants for Controlled Substances, Scheduled Listed Chemicals<br>
Federal, State and Foreign- See <u>MudriAssociates.com</u></span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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