What Happened
In August 2023 the U.S. Department of Justice and DEA settled civil claims that Seattle naturopathic physician Marina (Marianna) Abrams had prescribed outside her authority. Between 2009 and 2021 she wrote 209 controlled substance prescriptions beyond what a naturopathic physician may provide, plus 204 prescriptions to be filled in California without a DEA registration there. They included alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem, tramadol, and diazepam. Abrams agreed to pay $65,000 and entered a four-year Memorandum of Agreement limiting her controlled substance prescribing to testosterone and codeine products, with DEA oversight of her prescribing practices.
“Abrams wrote 209 controlled substance prescriptions that were outside the scope of what a Naturopathic Physician can provide.”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.