We are all aware that our Nation is facing a major opioid crisis. According to statistics, opioid drug overdose deaths increased from 8,048 in 1999 to 47,600 in 2017. Currently, approximately 130 Americans die daily from opioid overdoses.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors revealed that Rochester Drug Cooperative (“Rochester”), the nation’s sixth largest drug distributor, and its former CEO, face federal criminal charges in connection to the Nation’s opioid crisis. Rochester ships to pharmacies across the northeast United States. The charges stem from allegations that Rochester did not report suspicious orders to the DEA.
While this is a novel approach in prosecution, the ripple effect is likely to be significant and may cause concern for drug distributors who have thus far only faced the possibility of civil penalties.
Horman Nichols, LLC 