CVS Pharmacy Inc. must pay $5 million to resolve federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) allegations.

The infractions occurred between April 2011 and April 2013..

Under the settlement reached July 5, CVS acknowledges that its DEA-registered pharmacies were and are required to comply with the CSA, and that nine CVS pharmacies in the Eastern District of California failed to fulfill these recordkeeping obligations in a manner fully consistent with CVS’s responsibilities under the CSA. The settlement and compliance plan cover the 168 CVS pharmacies in this jurisdiction.

The company’s pharmacies in Northern California failed to keep and maintain accurate records of Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances, according to court records.

Drugs, substances, and certain chemicals used to make drugs are classified into five distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential.

In addition to the settlement payment, CVS agreed to an administrative compliance plan with the DEA.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report