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How to Handle Pharmacy Robberies: Part 2

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This is the second installment in a 2-part series on robberies at retail pharmacies, likely the most anxious moments any store can experience. Previously, I mentioned some prevention measures you can take, many of them involving surveillance cameras that actually work. However, pharmacy employees need to do everything they can to identify suspects.

Do your best to notice specifics about the person that is pointing a gun at you. I know this does not sound easy, and it isn’t, but it can be crucial to law enforcement finding the subject or you identifying him or her. Height and approximate weight or build should come to your mind first, with one of those inside-thepharmacy height tapes coming in handy at times like this. Although hair type and color, as well as clothes, can be changed after a robbery, they are great details to give to the responding officers. The perpetrator’s race and distinguishing features (eg, scars, very large nose) cannot be changed and are important if the subject is not caught within a short time after the crime. [Read more…]

How to Handle Pharmacy Robberies: Part 1

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The frequency of pharmacy robberies has slowly risen over the past decade or so, with a recent upsurge in these dangerous crimes. I have always said that every armed robbery is a potential homicide. I know this is not a very settling statement to make, but it is unfortunately true. The good news is that a very low percentage of pharmacy robberies result in the death or injury of a pharmacy employee or customer.

I think one of the first orders of business is to get to know your local law enforcement officers. I cannot stress the importance of doing this, as the old “squeaky wheel gets the grease” adage applies very well to the retail pharmacy. Requesting them to come to your store and conduct a security check is one of the first steps to take to become more familiar with your officers and them with you. Larger police departments will likely have an officer or officers who work in some kind of crime prevention program and are easily equipped to provide you with this service. Even the smaller departments, however, may have a designated person working the day shift who can evaluate your store and point out the positive and negative issues that either protect you or make you more vulnerable to robberies and burglaries. Regardless, reach out to your local law enforcement and open the doors of communication before a robbery or other serious pharmacy crime occurs. [Read more…]

Beth Israel’s ex-pharmacy boss cops to stealing 200,000 oxycodone pills worth $5.6 million, is bound for jail

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The former pharmacy director at Beth Israel Medical Center will get a dose of jail time after pleading guilty to stealing drugs, authorities said Wednesday.

Anthony D’Alessandro, who once headed the pharmacy at the Manhattan hospital, stole nearly 200,000 oxycodone pills from the facility, said Bridget Brennan, New York City’s special narcotics prosecutor.

The 249-count indictment against D’Alessandro said the pills he pilfered were worth about $5.6 million on the street.

The sticky-fingered pharmacist pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, officials said.

D’Alessandro is likely to be sentenced to five years in prison, followed by five years of probation. His pharmaceutical license was nullified earlier this month. [Read more…]

Nurse asks for drug treatment instead of prison

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From the News-Messenger

A nurse charged with stealing medication from her patients at a Gibsonburg nursing home last year wants to be sent to rehab for a drug problem instead of prison.

But the prosecutor on the case doesn’t think the nurse, Andrea Alley, 37, Sandusky, qualifies for a program called intervention in lieu of conviction.

Judge Barbara Ansted will decide whether to put Alley on the program after a hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 10 in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court. [Read more…]

Opiate Rehabilitation Drugs: Do They Work?

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Law enforcement does not often get involved with individual cases of drug rehabilitation. Do not mistake this for not caring, though; officers barely have time for the job they were paid to do—enforce the law. Recently, more and more officers have been getting the opportunity to use nasal naloxone products when attempting to save individuals who have overdosed. Officers understandably become frustrated when certain addicts have to be revived repeatedly, however; one addict was reportedly revived 3 times in 1 day! Nasal naloxone is a last-ditch effort, but it doesn’t solve the long-term problem of addiction in the United States. [Read more…]

How BIG is the problem?

Year after year, state and local law enforcement statistics indicate that pharmaceuticals are almost 30% of the overall drug problem in the United States, running a close second only marijuana abuse. However, until recently, law enforcement, health care professionals, and the general public have placed little emphasis on this huge problem.

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Pharmaceutical Diversion Education (PDE) is designed to assist a wide range of the population in understanding the potential abuse and addiction that can be associated with prescription medication.

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Any Criminal Act Involving a Prescription Drug.

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