Misuse of drugs is not tolerated

Recently a Hearing Tribunal issued its written decisions on the merits and sanctions regarding the conduct of a pharmacist who was found to have misused one or more controlled drugs on two occasions, resulting in his admissions to hospital emergency departments. Also, the pharmacist was found to have responded dishonestly to an Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) investigator. The Tribunal found the pharmacist breached his statutory obligations, undermined the integrity of the profession, decreased the public’s trust in the profession, created the potential for patient harm, and failed to exercise the professional and ethical judgement required of a pharmacist.

Regulated members must steadfastly demonstrate responsibility for self by, in part, not misusing or abusing drugs. The requirement for regulated members to act honestly is a fundamental part of the covenant of self-regulation. This is especially true when dealing with controlled drugs and in responding to ACP investigations.

As a result of its findings, the Tribunal imposed the following penalties:

• The pharmacist’s practice permit to be suspended for 18 months, with 12 months served and six months held in abeyance and to be imposed by the complaints director if an additional complaint related to the potential misuse of drugs is received. Note the pharmacist’s 12-month suspension is being served from March 31, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
• The pharmacist’s permit shall remain suspended until he successfully completes a specified ethics course and provides the complaints director with a report from a physician that he is fit to return to practice, and if any additional treatment and monitoring conditions are required.
• An order that any practice permit issued to the pharmacist after his 12-month suspension be subject to the following conditions:
  • for one year after his practice permit is reinstated, he must provide evidence that he is complying with any recommended monitoring and support measures;
  • he shall practise under direct supervision for a minimum of six months; and
  • he is prohibited from being a licensee for five years after his practice permit is reinstated.
• For a period of five years, the pharmacist must provide a copy of the Tribunal’s decisions to any pharmacy employer or licensee of a pharmacy in which he works or owns, beginning on the date of the decision.
• The pharmacist is responsible for $18,000 towards costs of the hearing.

In this matter, there were no findings the misused drugs were diverted from the pharmacies owned by the pharmacist, there were no allegations of patient harm, and the pharmacist entered a joint submission on sanctions.

Rationale for the Tribunal’s decision is reflected in the following statements from its December 16, 2025, written decision on the merits:

The misuse of controlled drugs by a pharmacist fundamentally breaches the trust and confidence that the public must be able to place in regulated health professionals. Pharmacists are granted extraordinary authority within Alberta’s healthcare system, including the ability to access, manage, and dispense substances that pose serious risks of harm if improperly used. This authority comes with a corresponding expectation that pharmacists will adhere to the ethical and legal frameworks governing controlled substances. When a pharmacist uses such drugs for personal purposes or outside the bounds of professional judgement, they act in direct contravention of those expectations. Such conduct demonstrates a disregard for statutory requirements, practice standards, and the principles of integrity and responsibility that underpin the pharmacist’s professional obligations.

Moreover, misuse of controlled drugs by a pharmacist has the potential to directly endanger public safety, compromise the proper functioning of pharmacy services, and erode confidence in the regulatory system established under the HPA.

… … …

Honesty and forthrightness during an investigation are fundamental obligations and are not optional qualities for a regulated professional. Investigations conducted under the HPA serve a critical public protection function. Regulators must be able to rely on the truthfulness of information provided by their members to accurately assess risk, respond to allegations of misconduct, and take appropriate remedial or disciplinary action where necessary. Dishonesty obstructs that process and causes harm that extends beyond the individual matter: it erodes confidence in the profession’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Pharmacy technicians and pharmacists – review your ethical duties to your profession and yourself

1. Understand that the misuse or abuse 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.
2. Do not allow your personal circumstances to negatively affect your professional obligations.
3. Seek help at the earliest opportunity. Many employers offer an employee assistance program and there are many other assessment and support services offered through Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, and for members of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association.
4. Take yourself out of practice when you are not fit to practise.
5. Respond openly, fulsomely, and honestly to ACP’s investigators.
6. 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.
7. Review, discuss with your colleagues, understand, and consistently comply with tenets of professionalism.