DEA LAWYER

DEA Investigations 

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is the federal agency granted statutory authority under the federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Under the auspices of the Act, the DEA has the responsibility to control the distribution of controlled substances. Controlled substances include opiates and opioids (morphine, codeine, hydromorphone/Dilaudid, hydrocodone, Fentanyl); benzodiazepines (alprazolam/Xanax, lorazepam/Ativan, diazepam/Valium, midazolam/Versed); amphetamines (Ritalin and Adderall); and certain other drugs like carisoprodol/Soma and Ambien.

The DEA manages controlled substances by registering healthcare practitioners who dispense them. Practitioners who require DEA registration include physicians, mid-levels such as physician assistants (PAs) and advanced practice nurses (NPs, etc.), dentists, veterinarians, and pharmacies.

Healthcare practitioners typically need the services of an attorney when dealing with the DEA when they’re seeking an initial registration, when they’re the subject of an investigation and have been issued a show-cause order, or when they’re the target of a surprise inspection usually leading to a request for voluntary surrender. The DEA investigation attorneys at Leichter Law Firm PC have substantial experience in dealing with all aspects of the DEA process. If you have been the target of a DEA inspection or have been requested to voluntarily surrender your controlled substance registration, the experienced attorneys of Leichter Law Firm PC can assist you. Call Leichter Law Firm PC today at 512.495.9995 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

DEA Inspections

To inspect the premises, the DEA and their agents usually need an administrative warrant or inspection notice. Unfortunately, this procedure is not always properly observed and DEA agents often intimidate registration holders into letting them enter the premises and conduct an inspection without such legal authority.

After an inspection, the DEA will usually “request” that the licensee surrender their controlled substance registration. The licensee, who does not know their rights under the Act, will feel pressured into giving up their controlled substance registration. Oftentimes, the violation does not merit surrender and can be resolved through a negotiated settlement. Moreover, a voluntary surrender of your DEA controlled substance registration would have adverse effects on your Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas DPS) controlled substance registration.

Why You Need a DEA Lawyer

Controlled substance registration holders should consult with a knowledgeable DEA attorney before they surrender their registrations. When a DEA agent inspects your premises, they must present a Form 82, or Notice of Inspection. What healthcare practitioners may not realize they can refuse to consent to the inspection by refusing to sign Form 82. When you refuse to sign Form 82, the DEA cannot return until they get an administrative inspection warrant or search warrant.

If you consent to an inspection, the DEA is limited in what it can do. For example, the DEA is authorized to “inspect, copy, and verify the correctness of records required to be kept,” but they can’t review sensitive information like financial records or patient charts. You may have been unaware of your right to refuse to sign a Form 82, of your right to protect sensitive data, and of other rights you have as a healthcare practitioner.

If the DEA puts you and your healthcare practice in this difficult position, you may be confused about what to do next. If you don’t know what legal rights the Act affords you, surrendering your controlled substance registration may seem like the easiest thing to do.

However, you don’t have to be intimidated into surrendering your controlled substance registration when the DEA fails to follow proper inspection protocol. An experienced DEA attorney can show you all the aspects where the DEA is legally wrong in this complicated situation. Your attorney will know your rights and will advocate for them on your behalf.

What to Expect from a DEA Inspector – and How to Be Prepared

When a DEA inspector visits your healthcare practice, they must identify themselves with a badge. If the inspector didn’t, you already have a case against them. Next, the inspector must present Form 82. Again, you have the right to refuse to sign this document. The inspector may claim that they will “come right back with a warrant” if you refuse to sign the Form 82.

Then, the DEA inspector may ask you to provide them with information such as:

  • Your current DEA registration denoting “X” waivered status
  • Your Patient Prescription Logs and Dispensing Logs
  • Your list of patients receiving buprenorphine or similar medications

You do not have to consent to an inspection without a warrant. However, if you do, you should notify all waivered physicians of the DEA’s right to audit them. In addition, you can be prepared for an inspection by making sure that all relevant documentation is in compliance and easily accessible.

Staff members of your healthcare practice have the right to oversee DEA inspections, so you should train one or two members of your team to observe DEA inspections. There is strength in numbers, and if the DEA sees that everyone in your practice understands what happens during a DEA inspection, they are less likely to try to intimidate or trick your staff into revealing information they are not allowed to see.

The DEA inspector will also realize that all of you know your rights and know what they can and can’t do. This will keep them in check and is more likely to ensure that they abide by the rules according to the Act.

Why Choose Leichter Law Firm PC to Handle Your Case?

At Leichter Law Firm PC, our attorneys have a wealth of combined experience in helping healthcare practitioners achieve justice against negligent DEA agents. Our founder, Louis Leichter, specializes in the area of license defense. He is a member of the Travis County Bar Association Administrative Law Section, Health Law Section, and Business Law Section. He, as well as the rest of our experienced attorneys, will provide you with the best possible legal representation when you’ve been unfairly intimidated by the DEA.

We have a demonstrated history of helping clients like you win even the most complex cases. For more information, you can visit our results and testimonials pages, or contact us today for your free consultation.

Contact a Texas DEA Lawyer Today

If you have been involved with an inspection with the DEA and have been “requested” to surrender your controlled substance registration, Leichter Law Firm PC can help you. If the DEA failed to follow proper protocol at any stage of your encounter, we can defend you regarding your controlled substance registration. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you seek justice against negligent DEA inspectors. One of our compassionate attorneys is ready to take on your case, and all you have to do is contact us now for a free consultation by calling us at 512.495.9995. We look forward to assisting you.

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1602 E 7th St
Austin, TX 78702
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3700 N Main St
Houston, TX 77009
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214 N 16th St #128
McAllen, TX 78501
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