RVCPD: Local Doctor Illegally Prescribed Pain Meds

A Baldwin-based doctor was arrested Tuesday morning after an investigation by the Rockville Centre Police Department (RVCPD) discovered that the doctor had allegedly been illegally prescribing addictive painkillers to patients.

In an joint investigation initiated by the RVCPD in connection with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, it was learned that Anand Persuad had been illegally prescribing highly addictive painkillers, such as oxycodone, for cash without properly examining patients or documenting the transactions, police said.

Persuad, 44, of Baldwin Harbor, had “medical” patients -- those with regular medical issues -- who were charged $110 for an office visit.

However, police said that Persuad “pain management” patients -- drug users and addicts -- who were charged $250 or more for an office visit that included a prescription for a controlled substance, such as oxycodone.

According to police, Persaud did not conduct a physical examination of the “pain management” patients or even question them about their need for the medication. 

Persaud was arrested at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday at his medical office, located at 1019A Atlantic Ave. in Baldwin.

He was charged with two counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance, a class C felony. Persaud was arraigned earlier Tuesday at First District Court.         

Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Charles Gennario voiced concern about the growing prescription drug epidemic.

“These doctors are legalized drug dealers," Gennario  said. "They are no better than the local street drug dealer, and we should expect more from our health care professionals.”

In Nassau and Suffolk Counties, admissions to drug treatment that involve opiates have increased 57 percent and 40 percent, respectively, over the past three years, police said. Non-crisis admissions have increased almost 70 percent in Nassau over the same time period.

Since 2006, police said oxycodone has contributed to more deaths than any other prescription opioid in Nassau County and prescriptions for the drug increased 42 percent from 2008 to 2010.