Narcotic Treatment Program Faces Civil Penalties
GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Lanier Treatment Center, Inc., a narcotic treatment program, located in Gainesville, Georgia, has agreed to pay a civil settlement of $20,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act. Lanier Treatment Center, Inc. also has agreed to additional oversight from the Drug Enforcement (DEA).
Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the case, “DEA Diversion Investigators will continue to conduct accountability audits to make sure that Narcotics Treatment Programs are abiding by specific rules and regulations. This civil fine shows that DEA and the entire law enforcement community are committed to making sure that such companies are abiding by its mandates.”
“The Controlled Substances Act requires treatment centers like Lanier Treatment Center to keep an accurate inventory of its controlled substances to prevent them from falling into the hands of dealers and addicts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn. “The diversion of prescription narcotics and painkillers feeds the market for abuse and addiction, and Georgia is experiencing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. We are committed to preventing the diversion of controlled substances by enforcing the recordkeeping requirements.”
The government alleges that Lanier Treatment Center, Inc., failed to maintain a current, complete, and accurate record of all controlled substances received, sold, delivered, or otherwise disposed of. Accountability audits conducted by the DEA revealed overages and shortages of methadone in 2010 and 2013. The government also alleges that Lanier Treatment Center, Inc. failed to conduct a biennial inventory in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and failed to comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding written orders for controlled substances. The claims settled are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
The Controlled Substances Act was enacted to ensure that controlled substances are properly regulated and to help prevent drug diversion. Thus, narcotic treatment programs that receive and dispense controlled substances are required to maintain complete and accurate inventories and records of all controlled substances that they purchase, receive, dispense, or destroy. In order to enforce the recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act, the Act imposes civil penalties for refusing or negligently failing to maintain the records required by the Act.
This case was investigated by Diversion Investigators from the DEA.
The civil settlement was reached by Assistant United States Attorney Lena Amanti.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
