Edmonton pharmacy technician suspended after moving cocaine through hospital pharmacy

On Thursday, the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) ordered the suspension of an Edmonton pharmacy technician who was reportedly found to have diverted cocaine through the pharmacy at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

A Hearing Tribunal found that Ryan Young, the pharmacy technician, was manipulating inventory records in an attempt to conceal and facilitate theft.

It’s believed that medications were not diverted for beyond Young’s personal use. The Tribunal also noted there were no allegations of patient harm.

Young has reportedly admitted to his unprofessional conduct and it’s believed that he diverted cocaine on four separate occasions.

Since, the Tribunal has imposed the following orders:

• Young’s registration, including his ability to apply for a practice permit, to be suspended for 18 months commencing October 18, 2023;
• after the completion of the suspension, his registration to not be reinstated until he provides ACP’s complaints director with a recent report from a qualified physician that he is fit to return to practice;
• an order that any practice permit issued to him be subject to the following conditions:
  • he shall practise under direct supervision for a minimum of six months following his return to practice; and
  • for a period of five years, he must provide a copy of the Tribunal’s decisions to any employer who offers him 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 he is prohibited from being a pharmacy owner or proprietor until five years after his reinstatement onto a pharmacy technician register with ACP; and
• 50 per cent of the costs of the investigation and hearing, to a maximum of $10,000.

“The legal and regulatory requirements applicable to narcotics are intended to protect the public’s health and safety from potentially dangerous drugs. Mr. Young ignored these requirements and removed cocaine powder for his personal use while trying to cover up this diversion,” said the ACP in a statement.

“Such conduct is a marked departure from the expectations of regulated members of the College. It is a very serious matter and warrants a serious sanction. The seriousness of the matter is increased by the fact that Mr. Young continued to provide professional services in close proximity to the timing of his misuse of the controlled substance, thereby putting members of the public at risk of harm.”

The ACP adds that Young was not working at the pharmacy during their investigation, and he has not practised since.