The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is alerting providers and partners of a potential disruption in care that has occurred in the Passaic County region. NJDOH has been informed of a Paterson-based clinician prescribing controlled dangerous substances who surrendered their Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license, making this clinician unable to continue prescribing such medications. Patients receiving care from this provider were receiving prescriptions for medications including benzodiazepines and opioids. This incident has led to a disruption in access to care and patient medical records for approximately 250-300 patients, leaving patients at-risk for withdrawal symptoms due to an abrupt discontinuation of these medications. Abrupt withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be life-threatening.
The attached health alert and handout are being disseminated to alert patients and providers of the potential health concerns for impacted patients, and available resources. For more information, please contact Amanda.Gan@doh.nj.gov.
This information has been broadcast to: Health Care Providers; Dentists; Dermatologists; ICPs; Infectious Disease; Internist/Critical Care; Medical Society; Neurologists; Nurses; OB/GYNs; Occupational Med; Ophthalmologists; Other Specialties; Other-Health Care Providers; Pediatricians; Primary Care/Family Practice; Surgeons; Administration; Emergency; Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; Medical Affairs/Staff ; Security; Local Boards of Health; _All Notifications;