Orland Park Doctor Prescribed 'Dangerous' Drug Combo: DEA

Orland Park IL

10 March, 2022

4:21 PM

Description

ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park-based doctor had his DEA registration suspended last week by the Drug Enforcement Agency after agents said Faris Abusharif prescribed dangerous drug combinations for illegitimate medical reasons. Abusharif runs a pain treatment center in Orland Park, according to his website. On March 3, DEA officials announced Abusharif would not be allowed to prescribe medicine while officials investigate an anonymous tip into Abusharif's prescription history. According to Robert Bell, a special agent in the DEA's Chicago office, Abusharif illegally stored Schedule II and III controlled substances at unregistered locations. In July 2021, DEA officials reviewed his records after receiving a tip from the agency's Suspicious Orders Report System. According to Bell, officials found Abusharif did not keep up-to-date medical charts on patients he prescribed medicine to. The review led to a controlled substance accountability audit, which Bell said found Abusharif was unable to comply with due to missing DEA records. From there, the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program reviewed inventory at the doctor's practice. "Additionally, a review of Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program reports for Dr. Abusharif revealed unusually high quantities of narcotics prescribed to multiple patients. Records also revealed dangerous drug combinations prescribed including the 'trinity' combination of narcotics — benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants — to members of the same household, and to himself," Bell told Patch. According to Bell, Abusharif admitted to ordering amphetamine mixed salts, commonly known as Adderall, for his personal use. In September of last year, an independent medical expert looked further into Abusharif's records and concluded he was not prescribing similarly to how he had in the past, authorities said. Bell told Patch Abusharif has one month for an administrative hearing on his behalf before his registration is revoked permanently. As of Thursday, Abusharif was still allowed to maintain his practice but could not prescribe or administer controlled substances. Abusharif could not be reached at his office Thursday.