DEA: Former humane society executive director obtained Vicodin for her dog
By: PHILIP K. IRELAND - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- Stacy Steel, arrested Monday by federal authorities for allegedly obtaining controlled substances by fraud while working as executive director of the North County Humane Society, told investigators she got the drugs for her dog, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Steel allegedly obtained 3,600 tablets of the prescription Vicodin over a five-month period ---- from October 2005 to February 2006 ---- special agent Dan Simmons of the Drug Enforcement Agency said Tuesday. As executive director, Steel allegedly directed others at the Humane Society to order the drugs, Simmons said.
Simmons said Steel is suspected of obtaining the 36 bottles of Vicodin pills by deceit, ostensibly for her dog.
The claim puzzles Jennifer Stewart, a veterinarian who served as interim director at the North County Humane Society between 2001 and 2003, and whose drug registration number was allegedly used without her knowledge to order some of the drugs.
"I can't imagine she would be using (Vicodin) for her dog," Stewart said, "and I don't know why she would be self-medicating her dog without the care of a licensed veterinarian."
The 38-year-old Steel will be arraigned on April 17 in San Diego Superior Court. The district attorney's office declined to comment on the case until after the arraignment.
Steel resigned from her $95,000 post as executive director of the Oceanside animal shelter March 25 in the midst of the DEA's two-month investigation.
Stewart said Vicodin, a prescription pain reliever, is not typically used in veterinary offices. A similar drug, Hycodan, is more commonly used by veterinarians as a cough suppressant, she said.
Vicodin might be used as a post-surgery pain reliever for animals, Stewart said. She said, however, that most veterinarians would simply write a prescription for Vicodin to be filled at a pharmacy.
Steel declined from outside her Encinitas home on Wednesday to answer any questions regarding her resignation, arrest or the drugs. She referred all questions to her attorney, Peter Liss.
"We plan on having this case heard in a court of law and nowhere else," Liss said Wednesday.
Stewart told the North County Times on Tuesday that the DEA asked her in February if she had given anyone at the Humane Society permission to order drugs using her drug registration number. The number is issued by the drug agency to doctors, veterinarians and others who dispense controlled substances, and is used to order controlled substances from drug distributors and manufacturers. Those drugs are then the legal responsibility of the veterinarian assigned that number.
Stewart said she told investigators that she had revoked permission for the Humane Society to use her registration number when she left the North County organization in 2003.
Stewart said she knows of at least one other veterinarian whose agency registration number was used without permission by the Humane Society. Neither the DEA nor the North County organization would confirm that assertion.
City News Service contributed to this story. Contact staff writer Philip K. Ireland at (760) 901-4043 or pireland@nctimes.com.
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geo wrote on Apr 13, 2006 5:58 AM:she needs to put in the pin for a very long time for taken away from the animals
little bird wrote on Apr 13, 2006 6:12 AM:It is strange that if the vet is no longer working with NCHS that the people doing the ordering would think it was ok to do so. Is Ms.Steele the only one to be held accountable?
Dawn wrote on Apr 13, 2006 8:31 AM:"Ostensibly" is the operative word here. Coud it be that Ms Steel was taking Vicodin herself? Many people become addicted to painkillers after suffering some accident that leaves one with chronic pain. The Federal authorities have been known to lean on doctors who do prescibe what they-the Feds-determine is 'excessive' pain medication.
Doglover wrote on Apr 13, 2006 2:39 PM:I have the same question as Little Bird - is Stacy the only one to be held accountable? Normally, a director would not be ordering drugs; why did no one else notice and report the abnormally huge Vicodin orders over a five month period? Stacy says the drugs were for her dog. C'mon - anybody want to buy a bridge from me? First of all, that would still be stealing from the homeless animals at the shelter. Second, do the math - 3600 Vicodin over five months comes out to about 24 Vicodin PER DAY. I'm no vet, but seems to me that much Vicodin would kill a dog in one day, let alone over five months. If the DEA or judge/jury believes that story for a minute, they're insane. Either way, the DEA doesn't seem interested in what Stacy did with the drugs; she is just charged with "obtaining" them improperly. I hope they look a much deeper at this.
Animal lover wrote on Apr 14, 2006 11:16 AM:I also have the same question as Little Bird and Dog Lover. It seems unusal for the director to be ordering the drugs, unless she ordered all supplies, which I doubt. Does she think anyone will believe her 'story'. That amount of vicodin exceeds the normal human dosage. I feel the Board of Directors needs to look further into the happenings at the Center. Isn't anyone monitoring the expenses, supplies ordered and manor of dispersing. The animals are the ones suffering! Thankfully the Society has wonderful volunteers who work behind the scenes taking care of the animals. Question: Are any of the volunteers on the Board. They probably know more about the day to day happenings and needs of the animals than the Board. No, I'm not a volunteer, I've visited the Center many times.
Robert wrote on Apr 15, 2006 8:12 AM:I too am in disbelief wondering how in the world someone would obtain that Vicodin in a time span of less than six months. I've known Stacy for 23 years, and it is absolutely not like her to do something like this. Like Little Bird and Animal Dog, I believe there is more to this story, and others within the NCHS may have been involved in the scam too. I don't think Stacy will face any jail time, other than probation and community service. At this point in time we should allow the SDSC to hear her end of the story; she is still innocent until proven guilty.
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