Health Department Suspends North Smithfield Doctor's Authority to Prescribe Controlled Substances

The RI Department of Health has suspended osteopathic physician Alvin C. Bacon's registration to prescribe controlled substances after investigating a number of incidences of over-dispensing and over-prescribing precriptions.

Bacon, an osteopathic physician practicing at 598 Great Road, Lower Level, North Smithfield, over-prescribed Oxycodone, and also over-dispensed for some prescriptions, according to the Department of Health's order from the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline.

In one instance, Bacon prescribed a number of 30mg Oxycodone pills over a 432-day period between Jan. 5 2012 and March 12, 2013, but dispensed 6,460 tablets, enough to last 1,076 days, instead. Bacon also prescribed a 1063-day supply of 15mg Oxycodone tablets during the same period of time.

Also, from April 6 and June 19, 2012, Bacon prescribed a controlled substance for a family member three times. The report lists six additional incidents of precription irregularity.

See the attached .pdf for the full text of the order and list of the precribing and dispensing incidents.

Based on the incidents, the Department of Health suspended Bacon's registration to prescribe controlled substances, pending an administrative hearing or other resolution. 

Bacon was ordered to arrange for another doctor to prescribe controlled substances to his patients who need the drugs, and to transfer patient records immediately upon request.