Police in Tuscaloosa, Ala., have arrested forensic psychiatrist James Fullerton Hooper, MD, and charged him with five counts of the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and five counts of trafficking a control substance for prescribing large quantities of opioids without medical verification, according to AL.com.
The investigation, led by West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, is ongoing and could result in hundreds of charges against Dr. Hooper. According to AL.com, Tuscaloosa police lieutenant Teena Richardson said the investigation was spurred by complaints from Tuscaloosa County residents regarding Dr. Hooper prescribing "massive amounts" of pain medication without valid medical cause.
According to ABC 33/40, Dr. Hooper was released on $20,000 bond and his clinic is still taking patients.
According to the CDC, opioid overdose deaths reached an all-time high in 2014, killing more than 28,000 people.