Wednesday, August 8, 2012

FBI Raids Three Compounding Pharmacies




Update: The initial FBI news release listed Franklin County Pharmacy as one of those raided. There is no Franklin County Pharmacy. There is a Franklin Health-Mart Pharmacy that the TimesDaily states is connected to the other two raided. According to sources close to the DeArman family, the couple are now divorced, Carrie DeArman owns only Hometown Health-Mart Pharmacy. We're happy to note this and have requested that she report any additional info to us.

How do local pharmacies make a buck in a Walmart world? Many have become compounding pharmacies. If you aren't familiar with compounding, here's a crash course from Wiki:

Compounding (also pharmaceutical compounding and compounding pharmacy) is the creation of a particular pharmaceutical product to fit the unique needs of a patient. To do this, Compounding Pharmacists combine and/or process appropriate ingredient(s) utilizing various tools. This may be done for medically necessary reasons, such as to change the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, to avoid a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, or to obtain the exact dose needed. It may also be done for voluntary reasons, such as adding favorite flavors to a medication.

What do Franklin Health Mart and Russellville Pharmacies in Russellville and Sheffield Pharmacy in Sheffield all have in common? The three are compounding pharmacies. The Franklin County area is currently considered a big money market in the topical pain cream market.

Russellville and Sheffield Pharmacies reportedly have the same owner, Rodney Logan; however, Sheffield Pharmacy has been in business since 1949. It's unknown if these two pharmacies also sell the topical pain relief or if they are in any way connected to Franklin Health-Mart Pharmacy whose reported owners are Carrie Dearman and Mark Dearman.

Whatever the connection, FBI agents raided the three local pharmacies this morning, escorted employees from the premises, and began inventorying drug stock. Look for an update tomorrow.

Editor's Note: This is a breaking story. Early reports from the Birmingham office of the FBI listed an incorrect store name in Franklin County. This has been revised. As authorities release new information, we will attempt to update this site also.



Shoalanda

1 comment:

  1. Oh my I get my meds and my children's meds at the Sheffield location and had no idea this had went on. And they do have topical pain oniments but I have only recieved it already in a tube so, that being said, I cannot speak on if they mix those creams. But do have them in stock. I heard one girl that worked there had a previous drug problem but I was told she was in her teens while on them. I sure hope everything is ok bc I do like the pharmacy and the workers are always nice.

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