A pharmacist employed at a Minnesota pharmacy diverted Schedule II controlled substances for personal use. According to the Board of Pharmacy order, the pharmacist admitted that beginning in January 2019 she removed amphetamines from the pharmacy one to two times each week, without a prescription and without paying, and consumed them while on duty to stay awake during work. She admitted diverting approximately 60 to 80 tablets in total before the conduct ended in late July 2019.
The diversion was detected through the pharmacy's video surveillance system, which showed the pharmacist placing unknown quantities of Schedule II drugs into her clothing pockets on four dates in June and July 2019. A chemical use assessment in November 2019 diagnosed severe amphetamine use disorder and moderate alcohol use disorder, and the pharmacist acknowledged developing an addiction.
In February 2020 the pharmacist entered a voluntary stipulation to cease pharmacy practice while legal proceedings related to her practice were pending. She later told the Board's professional standards committee that she had completed outpatient therapy, participated in behavioral therapy and support groups, and had been sober since July 2019.
At its May 2021 meeting the Board issued a stipulation and consent order suspending the license but staying the suspension on conditions: enrolling in and complying with the Health Professionals Services Program, completing monitoring until satisfactory discharge, and abstaining from all mood-altering chemicals unless prescribed by a provider informed of her substance use history.