Renamed St. John's pharmacy can't shake notorious past after moving location
A St. John's pharmacy that was in the news for all the wrong reasons years ago is again facing complaints after moving to a new location this summer.
Officials with City Centre Pharmacy say the complaints are nonsense and the drug store is being harassed by people who don't like seeing methadone patients.
In 2012, Downtown Pharmacy on Water Street was notorious.
One of its pharmacists, Ann Marie Burke, went to prison for drug trafficking.
Pharmacist-in-charge Paul Gill had his licence suspended for failing to supervise Burke and protect the public.
Businesses near the pharmacy say its turmoil spilled right out onto their doorsteps.
"There was a lot of police presence. There were a lot of drug deals," said Margot Mayo, who owns the Jema Travel Clinic located above the old Downtown Pharmacy location.
"A lot of clients would call and say 'look I came by to keep my appointment but I was too nervous to come in.'"
Mayo, a nurse, said she doesn't have a problem with methadone patients and would have no trouble operating a business next to a well-run methadone clinic.
"Nothing against the clients who visited the methadone clinic, because I know they had a right to that kind of care, but unfortunately the pharmacy was run badly," she said.
"Their clients were allowed to sort of hang about. A lot of times, clients of my clinic were intimidated by the amount of people. There were a lot of outbursts and fights in the parking lot and outside our doors."
Renamed City Centre Pharmacy, the drug store moved to 3 Cashin Avenue this summer. A nearby business says trouble has followed it.
People with the business wouldn't do a recorded interview, but they said pharmacy clients are the problem.
They say they have heard threats, seen fights and witnessed drug deals.
City Centre's staff says those complaints are unfounded. In fact, they say the complaints amount to harassment of the pharmacy and its clients.
Pharmacist-in-charge Brendan Mullins believes the outcry won't last.
He said the pharmacy is taking steps to improve security in and around its new location.
"We have a promising future," said Mullins.
"It's a bright new location and the patients seem to be quite happy with it ... and you know we are going to contribute to the area and provide care."
The Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board doesn't believe there's a problem at City Centre Pharmacy.
The board's registrar said the drug store dispenses methadone to many people with drug addictions, and perhaps that makes some neighbours uncomfortable.
