Luke Edward St. Marie, D.D.S.
Outcome
Former Renton dentist Luke St. Marie charged September 2022 with four federal counts of illegally distributing opioids; 75 prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone issued to his then-girlfriend, her family, and friends without legitimate medical purpose; girlfriend fatally overdosed.
Details
Luke Edward St. Marie, D.D.S. — Illegal Opioid Distribution to Personal Associates (2018–2022)
Outcome: Former Renton, Washington dentist Luke Edward St. Marie, 34, was charged on September 13, 2022, with four federal counts of illegally distributing prescription opioids; investigators found 75 improper prescriptions issued in the names of his then-girlfriend, her family, and friends without legitimate medical purpose — the former girlfriend fatally overdosed at St. Marie's home.
Luke Edward St. Marie was a licensed dentist who practiced in Renton, Washington. Between January 2018 and July 2018, St. Marie issued prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone under his dental DEA credential outside the scope of professional practice and with no legitimate medical purpose. Investigation revealed that 75 prescriptions were improperly written — many in the names of St. Marie's then-girlfriend, her family members, and friends, who were not his dental patients.
Tragically, St. Marie's former girlfriend overdosed at his home and died days later in the hospital. The death contributed to the federal investigation into his prescribing practices. The case demonstrates the serious harm that can result when dental practitioners use their prescribing authority to supply controlled substances to personal associates rather than legitimate patients.
St. Marie appeared in federal court on September 13, 2022, and entered pleas of "not guilty" to four counts of illegally distributing prescription opiates — each corresponding to a specific instance of issuing prescriptions without legitimate medical purpose. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington and investigated by the DEA.
Primary Source: DEA Press Release — Former Dentist Charged Federally with Illegally Distributing Prescription Opiates (Sep. 13, 2022)
How Crucible Prevents This
St. Marie issued 75 prescriptions to his personal girlfriend, her family, and friends — persons with no documented dental need. Crucible's patient-relationship controls and the requirement to document clinical justification for every controlled substance prescription would have flagged prescriptions to persons sharing a residential address with the prescriber and to non-patient recipients before any harm occurred.
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