Atlanta

Emory Midtown pharmacy technicians accused of illegally selling prescription pills

Pharmacy technicians at Emory Midtown pharmacy are accused of stealing $20 million worth of prescription pain pills, investigators said. 
According to investigators, the techs were illegally ordering Xanax, hydrocodone and syrup used to make "Purple Drank" and taking it from the pharmacy to sell on the street. 
Investigators say they placed bulk orders, checked it in, then walked out of the hospital.
“These drugs had to be going somewhere to be sold,” said Rick Allen, Director of Georgia’s drugs and narcotics agency. “They were too valuable. They were ordering them in too large quantities.”
Investigators say the pills were stolen over a five-year period.
Emory police were alerted to the crime in 2013, and the investigation culminated this week when Emory Midtown was sanctioned.
Investigators say hospital surveillance cameras caught the technicians wheeling a cart full of prescription drugs down Peachtree Street.
Three pharmacy technicians and two pharmacists have been fired and lost their licenses for their involvement, and Emory has been put on probation.
“Two pharmacist and three technicians are gone because of this. Emory (is) on probation for at least three years,” Allen said.
Allen said Emory Midtown will have to keep meticulous records of what’s being ordered, how much and where it’s going.
Emory Midtown responded in a statement: “Emory has conducted a full review of its pharmacy process and has reinforced and added procedures to prevent this scheme from recurring.”
Allen believes the drugs ended up being accessible on the streets.
“This was the time Xanax deaths were going through the roof. Hyrdrocodone, codine deaths were going through the roof,” he said.
Channel 2’s Liz Artz spoke with a woman who said she’s seen first-hand the effects of having a child hooked on prescription drugs.
“It has devastated our family,” the woman, who did not want to be identified, said.
The pharmacy technicians have not been charged criminally, but Allen says that would be the next step.
He says it is up to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office or the U.S. Attorney to prosecute.

Cox Media Group

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