NH Board of Pharmacy - Emergency Suspension of Pharmacist License

NH Board of Pharmacy Actions

Filed February 18th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy has issued an emergency order suspending the license of pharmacist Justin Eric Lachance. The suspension follows findings of suspected diversion of controlled substances, including Clonazepam and Zolpidem, observed via Walgreens surveillance and confessed by the licensee.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy has issued an emergency order suspending the license of pharmacist Justin Eric Lachance, effective February 18, 2026. This action follows a verified petition for emergency temporary suspension based on findings of suspected diversion of controlled substances, specifically Clonazepam and Zolpidem. Evidence presented included Walgreens surveillance footage and the licensee's written confession of employee theft of these controlled substances.

This emergency suspension is effective immediately and pending an adjudicative proceeding to determine if the suspension should remain in place. The licensee's actions pose an imminent danger to public health, safety, or welfare, necessitating immediate action. Compliance officers should note that this is an enforcement action against an individual professional, highlighting the importance of robust internal controls and reporting mechanisms for controlled substances within pharmaceutical settings.

What to do next

Review internal controlled substance diversion policies and procedures.
Ensure immediate reporting of any suspected diversion to relevant authorities.
Monitor ongoing proceedings related to this case for industry-wide implications.

Source document (simplified)

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION

BOARD OF PHARMACY

In Re: Justin Eric Lachance ORDER OF EMERGENCY Docket No.: 26-PHARM-004 SUSPENSION – 02/18/2026

CASE SUMMARY/PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
On 02/17/2026, the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, Division of Enforcement (“OPLC Enforcement”) filed a “Verified Petition for Emergency Temporary Suspension of Licensure Pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and N.H. Code Admin. R. Title Plc 206.07” (“Petition”) pertaining to Justin Eric Lachance, (“Respondent/Licensee”). On 02/18/2026, the Presiding Officer and the New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy (“Board”) reviewed the Petition at its monthly meeting and subsequently suspended the Respondent’s license on an emergency basis pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and N.H. Code Admin. R., Title Plc 206.07 (“Plc”) (“Rules”). This Order of Emergency Suspension follows.
LEGAL STANDARD:
“In cases involving imminent danger to public health, safety, or welfare, a board may order immediate suspension of a license or certification pending an adjudicative proceeding before the board to determine if the suspension should remain in place pending final adjudication of the matter.” RSA 310:12, IV. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification has further interpreted that to mean that the Board “…

shall issue an order that immediately suspends the respondent’s license based on: (1) [a] determination that there is a reasonable basis to believe that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action…” Rule 206.07(a)(1).

EVIDENCE PRESENTED AND FINDINGS OF FACT:
Evidence Presented
The Board was presented with and/or considered the following evidence: the 02/17/2026 Verified Petition for Emergency Temporary Suspension of Licensure Pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and N.H. Code Admin. R. Title Plc 206.07 pertaining to the Licensee, which was authored and sworn to under oath by Kaitlyn Simoneau, OPLC Pharmacy Inspector, OPLC Enforcement, and the sworn testimony of Kaitlyn Simoneau before the Board on 02/18/2026. Additionally, the Board relied upon their collective expertise within the profession they regulate. A review of the evidence presented, and the reasonable inferences taken therefrom, allows the Board to find the facts set forth herein.
Findings of Fact
The Board hereby makes the following findings of fact.
The NH Board of Pharmacy first granted the Licensee a license as a Pharmacist on January 5,
2024.
The Licensee’s license is scheduled to expire on January 5, 2028.
The Licensee is also licensed as a Pharmacist in the State of Vermont, License No.
033.0134920 with an issue date of January 26, 2023, and expiration date of July 31, 2027.
The Licensee worked as a regional support pharmacist at Walgreens.
Walgreens observed the Licensee on video surveillance on or about January 6, 2026, after
hours, behaving suspiciously. In the video footage, the Licensee can be seen placing what appears to be tablets into his shirt pocket.
Walgreens provided the surveillance footage of the two incidents to OPLC.
Walgreens questioned the Licensee about the surveillance video. The Licensee confessed to
diversion of controlled substances on January 28, 2026.
On or about January 28, 2026, Walgreens in Londonderry submitted a NH Controlled Drug
Loss Form reporting the loss of two (2) Clonazepam 1mg tablets and one (1) Zolpidem Tartrate 5mg tablet indicating the type of theft as “Employee Theft”.
On or about January 28, 2026, Walgreens in Ossipee submitted a NH Controlled Drug Loss
Form reporting the loss of one (1) Zolpidem 10mg tablet indicating the type of theft as “Employee Theft”.
Clonazepam and Zolpidem are DEA Schedule IV controlled substances.
Walgreens provided OPLC with a copy of the Licensee’s written voluntary statement of
confession dated January 28, 2026.
Walgreens initially suspended the Licensee without pay on January 28, 2026, and terminated
him on February 7, 2026.
OPLC Investigator Michelle Sousa and Pharmacy Investigator Simoneau interviewed the
Licensee on February 13, 2026. The Licensee also provided a written response to the complaint at that time.
He confirmed that he placed tablet(s) in his shirt pocket while at the pharmacy.
The Licensee wrote in his response, “I acknowledge and accept responsibility for my actions.
The incident involved a significant lapse in judgement that does not align with the professional standards expected of me as a pharmacist and the personal standards that I expect of myself.”
Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, pharmacist licenses are portable and a NH
license in good standing would allow the Licensee to receive a license in another state.
The Licensee has a Vermont license.
Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, there is a pharmacist shortage which would
permit the Licensee to be hired at another pharmacy without a background check.
The Licensee, through a written statement to Walgreens on or about January 28, 2026,
confessed to diversion of controlled substances on the day of his January 6, 2026, shift in Londonderry, New Hampshire and on the day of his January 22, 2026 shift in Ossipee, NH. The diversions the Licensee confessed to were reflected in the NH Controlled Drug loss Forms submitted on or about January 28, 2026. (Walgreens Londonderry NH Controlled Drug Loss form – loss of two (2) Clonazepam 1mg tablets and one (1) Zolpidem Tartrate 5mg tablet; Walgreens Ossipee NH Controlled Drug Loss form – one (1) Zolpidem 10mg tablet.)
Based on the board’s knowledge and expertise, the tablets the Licensee confessed to diverting
were controlled substances that can only be obtained from a pharmacy with a valid prescription.
He confirmed that he placed tablet(s) in his shirt pocket while at the pharmacy.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
Based upon the Board’s findings of fact, the Presiding Officer concludes there is a reasonable basis to suspend the Licensee’s New Hampshire license on an emergency basis pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07. The Board’s Findings of Fact reflect that the Licensee acknowledged taking controlled substances from both Walgreens Pharmacy in Londonderry N.H. and Walgreens Pharmacy in Ossipee N.H. on sperate occasions without authorization or prescriptive authority. The Licensee currently remains licensed in a profession that would permit him to easily regain employment in the field. Based upon the foregoing, the Licensee's conduct on its face warrants an emergency suspension of his license pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07, pending a follow-up emergency suspension hearing/disciplinary hearing. ORDER: Pursuant to RSA 310:12, IV and Rule 206.07 (a) the Board and Presiding Officer hereby order the immediate emergency suspension of Justin Eric Lachance’s license as a pharmacist, pending a follow up emergency hearing in this matter. A Notice of Emergency Hearing is attached.

DATED: 02/18/2026 /s/ Shane D. Goulet, Presiding Officer Shane D. Goulet, Administrative Law Judge New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure & Certification 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301