Winnipeg pharmacist suspended for stealing drugs as part of addiction

File image (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

A Winnipeg pharmacist has been fined and suspended for stealing pills to feed his addiction.

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba handed Scott Putz an 18-month suspension and fined him $15,000, plus an additional $10,000 to cover the costs of the investigation, for stealing drugs for his own use.

In a decision from earlier this year detailed in the college’s spring newsletter, it said Putz took pharmacy stock, added pills to other bottles to try to cover inventory discrepancy, took patient-returned substances, processed prescriptions without a valid prescription and took unprescribed pills while working.

On March 22, 2021, the manager of the pharmacy that Putz was working at noticed inventory issues and found a different drug in a bottle. The manager also found a prescription was processed after hours and was not paid for.

“Mr. Putz’s initials were associated with this prescription. Upon further investigation and after questioning Mr. Putz, (the manager) found other prescriptions for amphetamine products which gave rise to similar concerns, and suspected that Mr. Putz was participating in fraudulent activity,” the decision reads.

The manager suspended Putz and then reported the concerns to the college.

Two days later, Putz met with the college and admitted to taking pills for his own consumption.

“Mr. Putz admitted that he had been engaging in this conduct for approximately three to four years, and advised that he was suffering from substance abuse issues.”

His licence was suspended by the college.

Winnipeg police also confirmed that Putz was charged with fraud over $5,000 in 2021.

In the decision, the college said Putz started a treatment program in November 2021 and still attends counselling twice a month.

Following an investigation by the college, Putz pleaded guilty. He was given the 18-month suspension with a credit of 17 months served when he had an interim suspension between 2021 and 2023.

On top of the suspension and fine, the college imposed restrictions on his licence for the next five years, which include not being allowed to be a manager or preceptor. He also can’t work alone, must continue counselling and partake in random drug screenings.