Treatment centers in Rome settle over drug inventory violations

Monday, March 18, 2013

Two Rome, Ga., narcotics treatment centers face financial penalties for alleged inventory violations, according to a news release.

New Horizons Treatment Center and Epiphany Center Rome Inc. have agreed to civil settlements for violating inventory requirements under the Controlled Substances Act.

"Narcotic treatment programs that distribute prescription drugs must maintain proper records of the drugs they distribute," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. "By failing to keep an accurate account of their controlled substances inventories, these narcotic treatment programs created the potential that prescription drugs would be diverted to illegitimate uses."

The Epiphany Center Rome Inc. faces government allegations that the center "failed to maintain a current, complete and accurate record of all controlled substances received, sold, delivered or otherwise disposed of," the release states.

The DEA conducted accountability audits that revealed methadone overages in 2011 and a 2012 shortage of about 460,000 milligrams of methadone.

The center faces further government allegations that they failed to conduct the first biennial methadone inventory, to conduct biennial inventories in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and maintain a dispensing log and comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding written orders for methadone, according to the release.

New Horizons Treatment Center faces government allegations that the center failed to maintain a current and accurate record of all controlled substances. A 2011 audit revealed liquid methadone and buprenorphine overages and methadone diskette shortages.

There has been no determination of liability in both civil settlements.

Epiphany Center has voluntarily surrendered its DEA license and will pay $12,500 to resolve the allegations. New Horizons will pay $5,000 and has agreed to additional DEA oversight of the center.