Spokane Naturopath Pays $47,700

What Happened

Christopher M. Valley, a Spokane naturopathic doctor, agreed in November 2021 to pay $47,700 to resolve Controlled Substances Act allegations that he improperly prescribed controlled substances between December 2015 and December 2020. He acknowledged prescribing at least 318 controlled substances he was not authorized to prescribe, including modafinil, pregabalin, phentermine, zolpidem and one ketamine prescription. As a naturopathic doctor he could prescribe only codeine and testosterone products. The agreement states he stopped in September 2020 after pharmacists contacted him and voluntarily surrendered his DEA registration.

“has agreed to pay $47,700 to resolve allegations under the Controlled Substances Act that he improperly prescribed controlled substances”
U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Attorney's Office press release, Nov 9, 2021

Related Guidance

15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.

Sources

U.S. Department of Justice / U.S. Attorney's Office press release, Nov 9, 2021

Case at a Glance

Setting: Naturopathic practice
Drug: Modafinil, pregabalin, phentermine, zolpidem and ketamine
Method: Prescribed controlled substances he was not authorized to prescribe
Status: Civil settlement announced November 2021; agreed to pay $47,700

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Educational content, not legal advice.

About the author

DivertGuard is built and maintained by Alex Rodriguez, MHIIM, CPhT (also known as Jesus Rodriguez) — a drug diversion prevention program manager with more than a decade in pharmacy practice, including direct responsibility for a health-system controlled substance diversion prevention program.

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Related Resources

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Penalty Outcomes in the Case Records

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Registry Insights: Sentences, Fines, States and Outcomes

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Spokane Naturopath Pays $47,700 for Improper Prescribing