Tantallon doctor's alleged trafficking lasted up to 20 months, records show

ATantallondoctor's alleged drug-trafficking scheme lasted up to20 months before police began investigating, court documents show.

Dr. Sarah Dawn Jones, 35, ofHammondsPlainsis accused of prescribing50,000 oxycodoneand other pills to one patientwho never received thembetween Jan.1, 2014, and Aug.23, 2015, according to the documents.

Jones is also accused of stealingfrom and defraudinga man in Bridgewater,as well as the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.

On Feb. 24, Jones was charged with:

• Stealing Oxyneoand oxycodoneof a value exceeding $5,000 from Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
• Defraudinga man of Oxyneoand oxycodoneof a value exceeding $5,000
• Defraudinga Workers Compensation Board of Nova ScotiaofOxyneoand oxycodoneof a value exceeding $5,000
• PossessingaOxyneoand oxycodonefor the purpose of trafficking
• TraffickingOxyneoand oxycodone
• Breachingof trust by writing false prescriptions
• Intendingto defraud and without lawful authority wrote prescriptions in the man's name

Jones's alleged behaviour was flagged to Nova Scotia RCMP last August by Dr. Gus Grant, the registrar of Nova Scotia's College of Physicians and Surgeons.He told CBC News a concerned pharmacistcalled him on Aug. 21.

The college suspended her licence. She lefther job at the Crossroads Family Practice inTantallonin January.

Doctor involvement 'alarming'

The investigation continued for seven months, led byBridgewaterpolice as the alleged incidents are believed to have happened in that town.

"It's not uncommon for residents down here because of the shortage of doctors out here to have doctors in the city and commute," Police Chief John CollyersaidTuesday.

The large amount of pills is "very concerning," and is believed to have been obtained by Jones through writing several prescriptions in different amounts, he said.

"Normally we're used to street dealing, relatively small quantities. This is a large quantity," Collyer said."What's particularly alarming about it is that a doctor might be involved."

'Significant amount' not recovered

Aprovincial prescription drug monitoring program did not alertpoliceto the alleged incident,Collyersaid. He said he believes the system is best suited to catchingpatients seeking multiple prescriptions, a practice known as "double doctoring."

A "significant amount" of the 50,000 pills hasnot recovered, he said. Collyer would not specify how much police have seized, nor from which location.

Jones is next scheduled to appear in court May 11.