Pharmacy Where Ersland Shot Robber Accused Of Selling Too Many Prescription Drugs

OKLAHOMA CITY -

A pharmacy comes under fire for selling too many prescription drugs.

With Oklahoma ranked No. 1 in the nation for prescription drug abuse, prosecutors are concerned Reliable Pharmacy is becoming a hot spot for addicts.

Prosecutors say Reliable Pharmacy dispenses more pain pills than four larger neighboring pharmacies combined. Reliable Pharmacy first landed in the spotlight in 2009 when former pharmacist Jerome Ersland shot and killed a would-be robber.

7/8/2011 Related Story: Jerome Ersland Sentenced To Life In Prison By OKC Judge

Now the small pharmacy is accused of selling a large amount of prescription drugs. Court documents show Reliable is No. 1 in the state for selling the top three most abused prescription drugs, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam.

"The other controlled drugs are comparable to the nearby pharmacies," said Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater."But not the top three most abused."

Prater said he learned of the potential problem in a lawsuit between Reliable Pharmacy and its distributor, Cardinal Health.

"We didn't know," Prater explained."The D.E.A and the O.B.N didn't know until Cardinal filed a compliance letter saying an inordinate amount of drugs are going out the door."

Although Cardinal Health profits from Reliable's business, the distributor refused to ship the drugs to Reliable until an Oklahoma County Judge made a ruling to force Cardinal Health to continue sending the drugs for the next 45 days.

Continue reading here:
Pharmacy Where Ersland Shot Robber Accused Of Selling Too Many Prescription Drugs