Feds send strong message on opioids

The announcement that the U.S. Justice Department has filed a complaint to bar a Sandusky doctor and an Akron physician from prescribing medications following an investigation is a major step in tackling the opioid problem that has plagued many communities.

Federal officials are seeking a temporary restraining order under the Controlled Substances Act barring Dr. Gregory J. Gerber of Sandusky and Dr. Michael P. Tricaso of Akron from writing prescriptions.

An investigation revealed Gerber and Tricaso recklessly and unnecessarily distributed painkillers and other drugs.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions joined Justin Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and other Justice Department officials, in Cleveland on Aug. 22 to make the announcement.

On March 19, President Trump announced the Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand.

The initiative seeks to “reduce the over prescription of opioids which has the potential to lead Americans down a path to addiction or facilitate diversion to illicit use.”

This latest effort is expected to aid in the fight to eradicate this problem.

And Lorain County has had its share of problem with the opioid epidemic.

On Aug. 8, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman announced that Lorain County will receive nearly $400,000 in federal funding to fight this disturbing trend.

The funding is part of a $26 million package for Ohio through the 21st Century CURES law.

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction has distributed the funds through local Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health boards in Ohio communities and statewide initiatives.

Pursuant to the president’s Initiative and as part of the goal to reduce opioid over-prescription, the Justice Department’s Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force aggressively deploys and coordinates all available criminal and civil law enforcement tools to reverse the tide of opioid overdoses in the United States.

As a result of the Prescription Interdiction and Litigation Task Force’s efforts, Sessions’ announcement of the temporary restraining orders for Gerber and Tricaso marks the first ever civil injunctions under the Controlled Substances Act against doctors who allegedly prescribed opioids illegally.

Sessions is sending a warning to every trafficker, every crooked doctor or pharmacist, and every drug company, every chairman and foreign national and company that puts greed before the lives and health of the American people.

He vowed the Justice Department will use both civil and criminal penalties, whatever it takes, to find and put the perpetrators in jail, or make them pay heavy fines and penalties.

Herdman agreed with Sessions and did not hold back in condemning the alleged activities.

He said these doctors simply are drug dealers in white lab coats.

Herdman adds the doctors illegally prescribed painkillers and other drugs for no legitimate medical purpose.

He said, “Putting so-called physicians like these out of business is one of several steps we are taking to turn the tide on the opioid and drug crisis that has caused so much death and heartbreak in our community.”

Documents filed in U.S. District Court show Gerber operated Gregory J. Gerber LLC from 2819 Hayes Ave., Suite 4 in Sandusky.

Gerber received $175,000 between 2013 and 2016 from Insys Therapeutics Inc. to promote Subsys, a liquid formulation of fentanyl applied under the tongue used to treat cancerrelated pain.

Officials say the payments violate the False Claims Act prohibition against kickbacks.

In October 2017, authorities said Gerber began seeing an undercover agent, who did not complain of pain during each of six visits with Gerber and received a minimal medical examination. On each occasion, Gerber prescribed controlled substances for the agent including oxycodone, dronabinol and alprazolam.

And the feds say Gerber allegedly violated the Controlled Substances Act or the False Claims Act.

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen D. Anthony said these doctors pledged an oath dedicating their lives to treating patients, but instead they traded that commitment for the pursuit of ill-gotten profits through the fraudulent prescribing of opioids.

Anthony said this case should serve as a warning to other physicians of the perils of engaging in such activities.

He said law enforcement will continue collaborative efforts to hold individuals accountable.

As most people realize, there’s still a long way to go to addressing this opioid problem.