DEA/U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration flag, American flag
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — The DEA announced it is taking action against several companies for mishandling opioids, including one based in Winston-Salem.
The DEA on Tuesday, under its “Operation Bottleneck” initiative, They executed an “immediate cease and desist order” and five “show cause orders” between September 25 and October 20, 2023.
“These companies have a legal obligation to hold every dose and every pill accountable to protect the safety and health of the American people,” DEA Administrator Ann Milgram said. “As the United States continues to face an unprecedented drug addiction and overdose epidemic that claimed 110,757 lives last year alone, the DEA continues to support the diversion and misuse of opioids and other highly addictive controlled substances. We will continue to use all available tools to prevent this.”
During the week of September 25th, the DEA issued one of its “show cause” actions. Inmar RX Solutions Co., Ltd., headquartered in Winston-Salem. Inmar is one of the “nation’s largest reverse distributors” that handles drug returns and disposal.
According to the DEA, “the company failed to meet its obligations to maintain effective controls over the diversion of controlled substances. including a continued failure to return the item to the customer and maintain complete and accurate records.”
A “proof of cause order” is an administrative procedure. The law requires a company to demonstrate why her DEA registration should not be denied, revoked, or suspended, and allows the company to submit a corrective action plan to her DEA. If it is determined that there is an “imminent danger to public health or safety,” an “immediate cease and desist order” will be issued against a DEA-registered company, resulting in immediate revocation of its DEA registration.
Other companies issued “orders to show cause” during “Operation Bottleneck” include:
- Ascent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dosage form manufacturer
- Quantum Commerce, LLC, Pharmaceutical Distribution Company
- Shrieve Chemical Company, LLC, Chemical Distributor and Importer
- Atlantic Biologicals Corporation is one of the top companies supplying opioids to numerous pharmacies in Houston, Texas.
According to the DEA, R&S Solutions, LLC “failed to capture more than 1 million dose units of oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances” and because the company failed to maintain adequate control. An “immediate suspension order” was issued. On “many occasions”.
