Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 12, 1995                   TAG: 9501120078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EX-PHARMACIST CONVICTED OF TAKING DRUGS

Salem Circuit Court Judge G.O. Clemens found Jeffrey Eller of Bent Mountain guilty after a two-hour sentencing hearing, but Eller will serve no time. Clemens handed down a three-year suspended sentence, recognizing Eller's efforts to undergo treatment for drug addiction.

"As far as rehabilitating him, Mr. Eller has already done more than I could have ever thought of imposing on him," the judge said. "But you've got to realize that he is different from the run-of-the-mill user or addict. He got these drugs through his occupation."

Eller, who was employed by the Revco pharmacy in the Ridgewood Farms plaza, was caught on the store's videotape taking depressant prescription drugs. In testimony, Eller acknowledged he had been taking drugs on the job for 18 years.

"One of my rationalizations was honestly that I was a pharmacist and I knew what I was doing," Eller said. "I was relieved when I was fired, because I knew my ability to obtain the drugs would be stopped."

Several substance abuse counselors and support group leaders testified that since receiving in-patient treatment at a Hampton facility this summer, Eller has attended weekly addiction-recovery meetings, support sessions and meetings of the Caduceus group, a local organization for health care professionals with substance abuse problems.

Eller's license to practice pharmacy was revoked May 19. Board of Pharmacy guidelines will allow Eller to request to have his license reinstated, despite the felony conviction.