DOVER – Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has ordered the temporary suspension of the Delaware nursing license of  Andrea M. Nopper of Wilmington following complaints of the licensee engaging in activities that present a clear and immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare.

In making his determination, Secretary Bullock considered the written complaints filed by the Board of Nursing for temporary suspension of the professional license of Nopper.

Nopper was arrested and charged last May with two misdemeanor counts of possession or consumption of a prescription drug, one misdemeanor count of possession or control of a counterfeit substances, one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and one misdemeanor count of offensive touching after admitting to arresting officers that she had been using heroin and cocaine intravenously.

The Delaware Code Titles 23 and 24 were amended on April 15 to enable a temporary suspension pending a hearing to be issued upon the written order of the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Board chair if the activity of the licensee presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health.

As a result of the actions taken today, the suspensions of Nopper will remain in effect for a period of 60 days during which time disciplinary hearings will be held to determine the final disposition for the nurse.

The licensure status of Nopper has been updated on the Division of Professional Regulation’s online license verification service. A copy of the signed  public order suspending the license of Andrea M. Nopper is attached.

Contact: Tammy Stock at (302) 857-3038 or , Delaware Department of State, Chief, Community Relations.

 **Click here to view the Emergency Order**

(Dover, Del.) Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has put into place emergency regulations around any extended-release hydrocodone (Zohydro) that lacks an abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) feature following recommendations from the Delaware Controlled Substance Advisory Committee. Abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) features are physical barriers that cause a drug to be ineffective when chewed, crushed, cut, grated, or ground or chemical barriers that can resist extraction of the opioid using common solvents like water.

“The use of this new and dangerous narcotic painkiller known as Zohydro must be monitored closely because the abuse of it can be deadly,” said Secretary Bullock .  “ It carries even higher risks of abuse than other short-acting formulations.”

The regulations require best practices in assessment, prescribing and monitoring of patients for whom the drug has been prescribed.  The restrictions and requirements, in conjunction with the Delaware Prescription Monitoring Program, provide an additional safety net in fulfilling obligations to protect the public.

Because of the potential for accidental overdose, intentional abuse or diversion, and available data and information pertaining to extended-release hydrocodone lacking ADF, Secretary Bullock finds that adoption of these emergency regulations is necessary to address the imminent peril to the public health, safety and welfare of all Delawareans.

Prior to prescribing an extended-release hydrocodone that is manufactured without an ADF, the medical practitioner shall conduct and document a thorough medical evaluation and physical examination as part of the patient’s medical record.

For more information about the Division of Professional Regulation Controlled Substances program visit: http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/controlledsubstances/index.shtml.

Contact: Tammy Stock at (302) 857-3038 or tamara.stock@delaware.gov. Delaware Department of State, Chief, Community Relations.

(DOVER, Del.) – Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has ordered the temporary suspension of the Delaware nursing license of Kenneth E. Weichert and Michelle A. Vickers following complaints of engaging in activities that present a clear and immediate danger to the public health.

In making his determination, Secretary Bullock considered the written complaints filed by the Delaware Department of Justice with the Board of Nursing for temporary suspension of the professional licenses of Weichert and Vickers.

The temporary suspension of Weichert’s license follows his arrest and charge on April 10th, 2014  with one misdemeanor count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, one misdemeanor count of Possession of Marijuana, and one misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The complaint against Vickers alleges her serious and habitual nature of offenses including engagement in repeated diversion of narcotics from the employer for her own personal use; admitting to a dependence on narcotics; continuing to practice nursing unmonitored while addicted to such medications; being discharged from a treatment program for noncompliance and poor prognosis; and being suspended from her multistate practice privilege in Maryland.

Recently, the Delaware Code Titles 23 and 24 were amended to enable a temporary suspension pending a hearing to be issued upon the written order of the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s designee, with the concurrence of the Board chair or the Board chair’s designee if the activity of the licensee presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health.

As a result of the actions taken today, the suspensions of Weichert and Vickers will remain in effect for a period of 60 days during which time disciplinary hearings will be held to determine the final disposition for each nurse.

The licensure status of Weichert and Vickers has been updated on the Division of Professional Regulation’s online license verification service, which can be found by visiting dpr.delaware.gov and clicking “Verify License Online.” You may also view online the public orders suspending the licenses of Kenneth E. Weichert and Michelle A. Vickers.

Contact: Tammy Stock at (302) 857-3038 or tamara.stock@delaware.gov Delaware Department of State, Chief, Community Relations

(DOVER, Del.) – Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has ordered the temporary suspension of the controlled substance registration of Dr. Alexandra Gold of Newark, Del. following her November 21^st arrest for her role in illegally selling prescription drugs on the Internet. She is charged with conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

“The charges against Dr. Gold are among the most serious we have seen in Delaware for illegally dispensing prescription drugs and represent a clear threat to public safety,” said Secretary Bullock. “The DEA has obviously spent a lot of time on this case and their complaint to the federal court is compelling and fully justifies this suspension.”

In making his determination, Secretary Bullock considered the allegations of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed on November 21, 2013 in the U. S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

The criminal complaint alleges that Dr. Gold participated in the sale of controlled substances over the internet via the website “Silk Road” by shipping controlled substances through the mail in boxes of candy, utilizing an online alias identity and a shipping address registered to a fictitious company.

As a result of the action taken today, Dr. Gold’s controlled substance registration suspension will remain in effect for no longer than 60 days, during which time a hearing must be held, unless Dr. Gold requests a continuance of the hearing date which will extend the suspension until the conclusion of all criminal proceedings.

Dr. Gold’s licensure status has been updated on the Division of Professional Regulation’s online license verification service, which can be found by visiting dpr.delaware.gov and clicking “Verify License Online.” You may also view the public order suspending Dr. Gold’s controlled substance registration by clicking  Temporary Suspension 2013 under Public Documents.

Gold, Alexandra – 2013 Temp Suspension

(Dover, Del.) – On November 6, 2013 the Board of Electrical Examiners voted to issue a cease and desist order to Raymond L. Vincent and his electrical inspection business, National Code Inspection Agency. The action resulted from a Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) investigation that determined Mr. Vincent unlawfully continued performing electrical inspections after his license expired on June 30, 2013.

DPR’s investigation also revealed that Mr. Vincent provided false information regarding his criminal history and failed to disclose four felony convictions on his license application.

Mr. Vincent has knowingly and willfully continued to conduct unlicensed electrical inspections since his license expired.  The Attorney General’s formal complaint also notes that on April 19, 2011, Mr. Vincent was criminally charged for unlicensed electrical inspections in the state of Maryland.

Any electrical inspections conducted in Delaware by Mr. Vincent or the National Code Inspection Agency after June 30, 2013 are invalid.

For a list of licensed electrical inspection agencies, visit dpr.delaware.gov.

Contact: Tammy Stock at (302) 857-3038 or tamara.stock@delaware.gov, Delaware Department of State, Chief, Community Relations

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