OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) – An Alabama psychiatrist has been charged with violating the Controlled Substances Act months after he was punished by the state medical examiners board for prescribing hazardous doses of stimulant medication.
News outlets report Dr. James Edwards was arrested Thursday at his Opelika practice and charged with violating the act by issuing prescriptions with no legitimate medical purpose. He appeared in court that same day and refused to relinquish his prescription license, which would’ve allowed him to post bail. He’s now in federal custody and set to appear in court Monday.
A January report by the board says the board has been investigating Edwards for more than a year. The report says Edwards denied the allegations, but later settled. He was put on probation and ordered to follow strict prescription guidelines.