Recently a Hearing Tribunal issued its written decision on the merits and sanctions regarding the conduct of a pharmacy technician who was found to have diverted zopiclone or another controlled drug on multiple occasions from the pharmacy where she practised. The Tribunal found the pharmacy technician breached her statutory obligations to the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP), undermined the integrity of the profession, decreased the public’s trust in the profession, and failed to exercise the professional and ethical judgement required of a pharmacy technician.
The requirement for regulated members to act honestly and ethically is a fundamental part of the covenant of self-regulation. This is especially true when dealing with drugs.
In this matter, the Tribunal imposed significant penalties, even though there was no direct evidence the drugs were diverted for beyond the pharmacy technician’s personal use, there were no allegations of patient harm, there had been no previous complaints regarding the pharmacy technician’s conduct, and the pharmacy technician admitted to her unprofessional conduct at the hearing. The Tribunal ordered
- The pharmacy technician’s practice permit to be suspended for nine months, with six months served and three months held in abeyance so long as no additional complaints of a similar nature are referred to hearing within five years. Note the pharmacy technician’s six-month suspension is being served from February 4, 2026, to August 3, 2026.
- After the completion of the six-month suspension, her permit shall remain suspended until she successfully completes a specified ethics course and provides the complaints director with a report from an independent medical assessment that she is fit to return to practice, and if any additional treatment and monitoring conditions are required.
- An order that any practice permit issued to her after her six-month suspension be subject to the following conditions:
- she shall practise under direct supervision for a minimum of 12 months following her return to practice; and
- for a period of five years, she must provide a copy of the Tribunal’s decisions to any employer who offers her employment as a pharmacy technician or in a pharmacy or healthcare setting where the restricted activities of regulated members of ACP (including the sale of scheduled drugs) can occur.
- An order that she is prohibited from being a pharmacy owner or proprietor until five years after her practice permit is issued.
- The pharmacy technician to be responsible for $5,000 towards costs of the hearing.
Rationale for the Tribunal’s decision is reflected in the following statements from its written decision:
The public puts trust in pharmacy technicians that they will handle medications properly, and in accordance with the applicable law. Theft is a criminal offence, and when pharmacy professionals engage in this conduct it fundamentally undermines the integrity of the profession, as diverted medications may be trafficked, misused by vulnerable people, or used in ways that are not clinically appropriate or medically indicated. These are highly regulated substances for a reason – Schedule 1 medications come with careful safeguards as to their use.
Pharmacy technicians and pharmacists – review your ethical duties to your profession and yourself
- Understand that the diversion of drugs for any reason cannot and will not be tolerated by the profession. Your decision to participate in these activities may result in serious sanctions.
- Do not allow your personal circumstances to negatively affect your professional obligations.
- Seek help at the earliest opportunity. Many employers offer an employee assistance program and there are many other assessment and support services offered through Alberta Health Services and for members of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association.
- Take yourself out of practice when you are not fit to practise.
- Review and reflect upon your conduct as it relates to the Code of Ethics and your profession. Principles 1, 10, and 11 of the Code of Ethics will provide you with valuable guidance in this respect.
