What Happened
People's Pharmacy, Inc. of Lakewood, Colorado, and its owner and pharmacist-in-charge, Mahnaz Abharian, agreed in March 2023 to resolve allegations that the pharmacy violated the Controlled Substances Act between January 2014 and July 2020 by filling prescriptions despite red flags, including exceptionally high opioid dosages and dangerous drug combinations. The pharmacy agreed to a $3.5 million civil penalty, which required it to pay all of its remaining assets, and to permanently forgo a pharmacy license and DEA registration. Abharian agreed not to dispense controlled substances again. They did not admit liability.
“People’s Pharmacy agreed to a $3.5 million civil penalty, which required it to pay all of its remaining assets”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.