Rite Aid Corporation and Subsidiaries Agree to Pay $5 Million in Civil Penalties to Resolve Violations in Eight States of the Controlled Subs...(period of two years; ...),Health

• At all 53 pharmacies in all eight states, Rite Aid failed to properly execute DEA forms used to ensure that the amount of Schedule II drugs ordered by Rite Aid were actually received.

Additionally, the DEA conducted accountability audits of controlled substances at 25 of the 53 stores investigated to determine whether Rite Aid could properly account for Schedule II and III controlled substances purchased and dispensed. The results of the accountability audits revealed significant shortages or surpluses of the most highly abused drugs, including oxycodone and hydrocodone products, reflecting a pattern of non-compliance with the requirements of the CSA and federal regulations that lead to the diversion of controlled substances in and around the communities of the Rite Aid pharmacies investigated.

"Congress regulates prescription medications because of their powerful and potentially harmful effects," said Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip. "Today's settlement will help to curb illegal access to these dangerous drugs that can often be abused."

"This settlement demonstrates the important responsibilities all pharmacies have to prevent dangerous drugs from being diverted from their intended use," said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "The civil penalties paid today are just one example of DEA's determination to combat the troubling prescription drug abuse problem in this country by pursuing pharmacies that fail to comply with the law. Our nation's pharmacies must play a major role in the fight against drug abuse, so that together we can protect public health and keep our communities safe."

As part of the compliance plan agreed to as part of the settlement, Rite Aid has agreed to audit each pharmacy to ensure that all of its controlled substances are maintained securely and that each phar
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