VA Pharmacist Charged With Diverting Controlled Substances

Following an investigation by the Virginia Department of Health Professions, a Virginia pharmacist was charged with diverting thousands of prescription medications for personal use over a year-long period.

The Case

Pharmacist Kenyon Brent Hooven had been a licensed pharmacist for 20 years before the Virginia Board of Pharmacy suspended his license in August 2024, after he admitted to diverting at least 6,182 doses of Schedule 2 controlled substances (C-II). Among the substances diverted and used by Hooven were oxycodone, dextroamphetamine/amphetamine, and mixed amphetamine salt. The pharmacist concealed his actions and altered the C-II inventory by adding fake prescription numbers to the log and changing the balance on hand in the pharmacy’s dispensing software.

Hooven admitted to an investigator from the Department of Health Professions that between May 2023 and May 2024, not only did he divert the opioid and stimulant medications, but he also used them numerous times a week while working his shift as a pharmacist. He further confessed to the investigator that he used the medications to avoid going through the withdrawal process and because he did not want to admit that he struggled with substance use disorder.

In May 2024, Hoovan presented to the emergency department of a local hospital for a detox evaluation. He tested positive for opiates and oxycodone and admitted to taking 30 to 45 mg of oxycodone every 6 hours. He also tested positive for amphetamine and admitted to taking 50 mg of prescribed Adderall plus an additional unprescribed 50 to 100 mg daily. He was diagnosed with severe opioid use disorder and stimulant use disorder.

According to the pharmacist, he was prescribed opioid pain medication by his primary care provider 14 years prior. However, he developed a tolerance, took more than prescribed, and was referred to a pain management specialist, where he was prescribed oxycodone for chronic knee pain. When Hooven began to take more medication than prescribed, he was switched to methadone for 5 years. After his prescriber eventually tapered him off the medication, he began diverting opioids from his employer.

In June 2024, Hooven’s drug counselor informed the investigator with the Department of Health Professionals that Hooven was not safe to practice as a pharmacist.

In mid-September 2024, Hooven entered into a consent agreement with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, admitting to numerous violations, agreeing that his license would be indefinitely suspended for at least 2 years, and setting out the terms required to reinstate it.

Criminal Case

In addition to losing his license, in September 2024, Hooven was charged with 3 felony counts of obtaining drugs and procuring administration of controlled substances by fraud, deceit, or forgery. He is set to appear in that case in November 2024.

References

Consent Order between Kenyon Brent Hooven, Pharmacist and the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. No 238802. September 2024. https://www.scribd.com/document/774705342/Virginia-Board-of-Pharmacy-Kenyon-Hooven-Investigation

Department of Health Professions. Minutes from telephone conference call. Virginia Board of Pharmacy. August 2024. Meeting Minutes. https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=Meeting%5C30%5C40312%5CMinutes_DHP_40312_v1.pdf