Dentist Sentenced for Prescribing Pain Meds to Employee, Then Using Them Himself

A New Hampshire dentist was recently sentenced for prescribing Vicodin, Percocet and Norco to a practice employee so that the practice employee could then give the drugs back to the dentist for personal use.

Related: DMD Survey: One-Third of Dentists Know of an Opioid-Addicted Colleague

The Keene Sentinel of Keene, N.H., reports that Ayman A. Jacobs, DMD, 54, was convicted on two drug possession charges that stemmed from an incident in 2014. He received a 12-month jail sentence, but the sentence was suspended for four years as long as he takes part in drug treatment.

Prior to the sentencing, the Keene Sentinel reports that Dr. Jacobs faced a disciplinary review before a New Hampshire board. The board’s investigation found that in October of 2014, Dr. Jacobs wrote a prescription for painkillers for an employee who also happened to be a patient. This employee then filled the prescription and returned the drugs to the dentist, according to the report. As a result of its findings, the board suspended Dr. Jacobs’ license, and that suspension remains in effect today.

Related: State Dental Association Creates ‘First Of Its Kind’ Set of Opioid Guidelines

The Keene Sentinel reports that authorities were tipped off to Dr. Jacobs’ illicit behavior by two Keene pharmacists. The pharmacists’ investigation determined that Dr. Jacobs’ employee had filled prescriptions for painkillers at five different pharmacies.

Opioid addiction in the dental community appears to be a common issue. A Dentist’s Money Digest survey of 196 dentists conducted in August of 2016 found that nearly one in three dentists said they know of a dentist who has been addicted to prescription opioids. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they personally knew a colleague with a painkiller problem.