NCJ Number
67022
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) STUDY ANALYZES FEDERAL ARRESTS AND DISPOSITIONS OF 129 MEDICAL DOCTORS WHO WERE DISPENSING DRUGS OUTSIDE THE COURSE OF MEDICAL PRACTICE BETWEEN 1972 AND 1977.
Abstract
STATISTICAL DATA FOR THE STUDY ARE DERIVED FROM THE DEA-202 ARREST FORM, WHICH IS COMPLETED AT THE TIME OF ARREST, AND FROM THE DEA-210 FORM USED TO REPORT DISPOSITION DATA FOR EVERY DEFENDANT ARRESTED UNDER A DEA INVESTIGATIVE FILE NUMBER. DOCTORS OF MEDICINE COMPRISED 78 PERCENT OF THE STUDY POPULATION. METHODS USED BY PHYSICIANS IN DIVERTING DRUGS INCLUDE THE USE OF OFFICES AS DRUG STORES, LEAVING BLANK PRESCRIPTION ORDERS AT PHARMACIES, BREAKING UP LARGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS INTO SMALL PRESCRIPTION ORDERS, AND WRITING PRESCRIPTION ORDERS UNDER SEVERAL PATIENTS' NAMES. THE PRIMARY MOTIVE FOR PHYSICIANS' PUSHING OF DRUGS IS ECONOMIC. METHODS OF DISCOVERY BY DEA AGENTS INCLUDE USE OF INFORMANTS, COMPLAINTS BY PHARMACIES, AND THE USE OF A DEA SYSTEM KNOWN AS ARCOS (AUTOMATED REPORTS AND CONSOLIDATED ORDERS SYSTEM). DEVELOPING A CASE AGAINST A PHYSICIAN AFTER INITIAL DISCOVERY OF POSSIBLE DRUG PUSHING INVOLVES THE ACCUMULATION OF EVIDENCE BY UNDERCOVER AGENTS. FOR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE PRACTITIONERS ARRESTED (52 PERCENT), THE PRIMARY TYPE OF DRUG INVOLVED WAS STIMULANTS, AND 1 OUT OF 5 CASES INVOLVED DEPRESSANTS. IN 25 PERCENT OF THE CASES, THE PHYSICIAN HIMSELF WAS A DRUG USER. OUT OF THE 99 CASES IN WHICH CONVICTION RESULTED, THE MAJORITY OF PHYSICIANS, (63 PERCENT) RECEIVED A MEDIAN PRISON TERM OF 36 MONTHS. DUE TO THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES AND LICENSING BOARDS IN CONTROLLING DIVERSION OF DRUGS BY MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, FEDERAL MEASURES TAKEN INCLUDE: 1) SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIVERSION INVESTIGATION UNITS, 2) ESTABLISHING A STATE LICENSING BOARD EFFECTIVENESS PROJECT, 3) FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCOS SYSTEM, AND 4) EDUCATION PROGRAMS DIRECTED AT MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. (DEG)