Two CVS Pharmacy Workers Are Criminally Charged with Stealing Drugs, Suspended by Dept. of Health
GoLocalProv News Team
Two CVS Pharmacy Workers Are Criminally Charged with Stealing Drugs, Suspended by Dept. of Health
The incidents are unrelated but are reminders of the drug abuse issues impacting pharmacists and the industry.
On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced both pharmacists have been suspended.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThese types of cases are more frequent than many in the industry or the public know.
One in 10 pharmacy professionals will suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD) at some point during their lifetime, according to Jeff Baldwin, PharmD, RPh, an emeritus professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, in Omaha.
The first of the cases is tied to the behavior of pharmacy technician Sarah Kolb. She was arrested in April and charged by Warwick police.
On Tuesday, RIDOH suspended Kolb's license to practice.
According to RIDOH:
- From November 2023 to April 2024, Kolb was employed as a Pharmacy Technician (1) at CVS Pharmacy #733, located at 2400 Warwick Avenue Warwick, Rhode Island.
- On April 24, 2024, RIDOH was notified by CVS that she had been diverting phentermine 3 7.5mg from her place of employment.
- Phentermine is a stimulant that is classified as a controlled substance under Rl General Laws §21-28-2.08.
- On April 24, 2024, RIDOH undertook an investigation on the aforementioned drug diversion report.
At around the same time, on April 24, 2024, Kolb replied to the Board of Pharmacy Investigator and admitted that she diverted phentermine.
On June 20, 2024, Kolb appeared before the Board of Pharmacy Investigative Committee, during which she confirmed that she had initially received a prescription for phentermine through her physician, had gained access to unprescribed medication from her place of employment, and diverted the medications strictly for self-administration and not to distribute to anyone else.
Kolb disclosed that she diverted approximately but no more than 50 pills of phentermine 37.5 mg and denied diversion of the balance of medications referenced in the DEA-106 report, according to RIDOH.
The investigation began with the Board of Pharmacy Investigative Committee who unanimously determined that unprofessional conduct had occurred, and that discipline was appropriate in this case.
“By dispensing drugs to herself, without a valid prescription and in a manner that is professionally inappropriate, Kolb violated the R.I. Controlled Substances Act, the Pharmacy Act, and the Pharmacy Regulation,” cited the RIDOH filing.
As part of the filing, Kolb agreed to a six-month suspension.
She still faces the criminal charge of “Larceny of a Controlled Substance” in Rhode Island District Court. She posted a $1,000 bond.
Court records show that on February 29, 2024, the Cumberland Police Department charged Lindsey Schneck with two felony counts of Larceny of a Controlled Substance and a felony charge of Embezzlement and Fraudulent Conversion.
According to the RIDOH consent decree with Schneck:
- From June 2023 to February 2024, Schneck was employed as a Pharmacy Technician (I) at CVS Pharmacy #37, located at 1998 Mendon Road Cumberland in Rhode Island.
- On February 13th, 2024, RIDOH was notified by CVS that she had been diverting benzodiazepines from her employer, CVS. Benzodiazepines are classified as a controlled substance under RI General Laws§21-28-2.08.
- On February 14th, 2024, RIDOH undertook an investigation on the aforementioned drug diversion report.
- At around the same time, on March 15, 2023, on Schneck's own initiative, she contacted the Board of Pharmacy Investigator and admitted that she diverted benzodiazepines.
- Schneck further reported that she had undergone treatment and expressed a willingness to cooperate with the Pharmacy Board to address the diversion of the medications.
- On May 30, 2024, Schneck appeared before the Board of Pharmacy Investigative Committee during which she confirmed that she had initially received a prescription for benzodiazepines through her physician, had gained access to unprescribed medication from her place of employment, that she diverted the medications strictly for self-use and not distribute to third-persons, and that she was working with both a court-sponsored program and medical providers to avoid recurrence of use of controlled substances.
- On May 30, 2024, the Board of Pharmacy Investigative Committee unanimously determined that unprofessional conduct had occurred, and that discipline was appropriate in this case. The Investigatory Committee also decided that Schneck was answerable to the criminal legal system, had undertaken rehabilitation, and that she was remorseful.
After her arrest, she was freed on $5,000 bail, and the court identified her for a diversion program, according to court records.
According to RIDOH records, both women are believed to have used the drugs, but did not distribute them to others.
Editor's Note: Kolb is a pharmacy technician, not a pharmacist.