Worcester Psychiatrist Who Illegally Handed Out Addictive Drugs Sentenced: USAO

WORCESTER, MA — A local psychiatrist has been sentenced after illegally prescribing drugs that he was not authorized to give out, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mohamad Och was sentenced on Thursday after prescribing highly addictive medications, like Adderall and Xanax. The 69-year-old was a licensed psychiatrist who owned Island Counseling Center in Worcester. He was sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.

He had also practiced medicine in other parts of the state, like Nantucket.

The psychiatrist often prescribed a combination of benzodiazepines and stimulants, which were outside of professional practice and had no legitimate medical purpose.

On multiple occasions in 2016 and 2017, Och unknowingly issued prescriptions for Adderall and Xanax to undercover federal agents. He did this without proper examinations.

Both drugs have a high potential for abuse and serious cardiovascular risks.

In November 2023, Och was found guilty of three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance after an 11-day jury trial.

“Handing out controlled substances as casually as Halloween candy is a clear-cut crime, in which Dr. Och abrogated his professional ethics," said special agent Jodi Cohen after Och's conviction.

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