DEA Shuts Down Four Philadelphia Pharmacies Over Record-Keeping Mess
Published Date: 4/25/2025
Notice
Summary
Four pharmacies in Philadelphia had their licenses suspended because they didn’t keep proper records of controlled substances, which could risk public safety. They didn’t ask for a hearing, so their registrations were officially revoked. This means they can’t legally handle these drugs anymore, effective immediately, impacting their business and customers.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
DEA Licenses Revoked for Four Pharmacies
Liberty Pharmacy Inc., Metro Care Pharmacy Inc., RiteCare Pharmacy Inc., and United Pharmacy Upper Darby Inc. had their DEA Certificates of Registration revoked. The revocation is effective May 27, 2025, which removes their authorization to possess or dispense controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act.
Pending Renewal and New Registration Applications Denied
The DEA denied any pending applications by these same four pharmacies to renew or modify their registrations and denied any other pending application for additional registration in Pennsylvania. That denial is tied to the revocation effective May 27, 2025.
Documented Large Recordkeeping Discrepancies
DEA found massive discrepancies when comparing pharmacies' invoices to Pennsylvania PDMP reports, including roughly 283,400 to 300,300 dosage units of alprazolam 1 mg, roughly 554,780 to 574,320 dosage units of alprazolam 2 mg, and thousands of bottles of promethazine with codeine for each pharmacy, amounting to about a 99–100% variance in some comparisons.
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