Pittsburgh Nurse Accused Of Stealing Prescription Pills From Nursing Homes
In elementary school, teachers would warn you that, if you buy drugs on the street, you never know what you are getting; it could be cocaine, or it could be something even worse, like rat poison. That warning rings even truer now, when fentanyl is a deadly but inexpensive substitute for almost every recreational drug out there. Buying counterfeit prescription pills on the Internet and reselling them is big business, but if you buy an oxycodone or Xanax pill that someone bought online, it is more likely than not that the pill contains fentanyl. How can you be sure that the pills you are buying are what they say they are? One way is to get them straight from a pharmacy or healthcare facility, or to buy them from someone who got them there. Pharmacies, hospitals, and outpatient clinics are involved in more drug crimes than you might imagine. If you are facing criminal charges for your alleged mishandling of prescription drugs at your healthcare job, contact a Pittsburgh drug crime lawyer.
When Healthcare Workers Face Drug Charges
It is illegal to possess controlled substances unless you have a valid prescription for them. Despite this, some prescription drugs, such as opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, benzodiazepines such as the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, and stimulants such as Adderall, are highly prized for recreational use. Healthcare workers who steal drugs from work for their own use or for resale may face the same penalties as patients who resell their drugs, plus additional charges for the theft of controlled substances. Employees who write prescriptions for controlled substances that are not medically indicated, or who forge doctors’ signatures on prescriptions, may face fraud charges in addition to drug charges.
In the News
Monica Blackwell of Pittsburgh faces the same grueling work schedule and inadequate pay as many other nurses. Until recently, she worked at three nursing homes in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Anyone who has worked in healthcare, especially in understaffed inpatient facilities, can easily understand how nurses and other workers in the healthcare sector can become addicted to drugs. At one point, Blackwell had to take a leave of absence from work because of the effect of the stress on her mental health, but she allegedly forged a physician’s signature on a letter authorizing her to return to work. In June 2024, she was arrested on drug charges for allegedly stealing opioids and anti-anxiety drugs by removing pills from blister packs but not administering them to patients. The investigation began when other nurses in the nursing homes noticed discrepancies in the medication records. The alleged theft of medications took place between November 2023 and January 2024.
Contact Gary E. Gerson About Criminal Defense Cases
A criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for illegal possession or theft of controlled substances from a healthcare facility. Contact the law offices of Gary E. Gerson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania about your case.
Source:
cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/nurse-steals-prescription-pain-pills/?intcid=CNR-01-0623
