Five federal Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities across the Sunshine State are reporting missing or stolen prescription drugs including fenatanyl.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who has been active in sounding the alarm on the increasing drug problems across the Sunshine State, asked the VA last month about missing or stolen prescription drugs being a problem in Florida. On Monday, Buchanan announced that the VA replied that at least five facilities reported missing prescription drugs over the past year.
Buchanan, who sits on the House Budget and Ways and Means Committees, said this could be a major problem.
“As Florida confronts a deadly heroin and opioid epidemic, I’m disappointed to learn that some of our VA facilities were impacted by drug theft,” Buchanan said. “The VA must do everything in its power to prevent drug thefts, which put our veterans and communities at risk.
“These are some of the most deadly and addictive drugs in existence,” Buchanan said. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
Buchanan pointed to an AP report which found that “drug loss or theft at federal hospitals, 98 percent of which are VA facilities, increased tenfold between 2009 and 2015 nationwide” and noted that the VA found “approximately 30 veterans were affected” by the missing prescription drugs. The missing prescription drugs include fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine and hydrocodone.
Noting that Manatee County, which is in his district, continues to be at the heart of Florida’s opioid crisis, Buchanan said more prescription drugs on the street will pose a major problem.
“The last thing Manatee County, and Florida, needs is more fentanyl on the street,” Buchanan said. “VA leadership needs to make it crystal clear to its employees they will face serious repercussions for stealing deadly drugs.”
The VA suspended one Florida based employee on the matter while another employee resigned before he could be fired.
