Pharmacist supplied steroids, By: Emily Power
July 20, 2007
A PHARMACIST who wrote false prescriptions for his own steroids took more drugs to counteract the side effects of breast growth and acne, a court heard.
Mark Jadczuk has pleaded guilty to acquiring medication including Viagra, anabolic steroids, vaccines for hepatitis A and B and meningococcal, insomnia tablets, antibiotics, painkillers, stimulants, and anti-depressants, for personal use without an authorised prescription.
The prosecutor told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that police also found the so-called date rape elixir diazepam -- the vial two-thirds full -- in a safety deposit box belonging to Mr Jadczuk.
The 27-year-old, from Burwood, is still a registered pharmacist but is not working.
A forensic psychologist's report tendered to the court said: "Once he began on this track, it was easy to continue."
The Pharmacy Board of Victoria said yesterday it would wait for a ruling by magistrate Maurice Gurvich before deciding if Mr Jadczuk would continue practice, possibly under supervision.
The court heard Mr Jadczuk was treated in hospital in 2005 for an overdose of appetite suppressant, which prosecutor Sen-Constable Geoff Adams said he supplied to himself.
Sen-Constable Adams told the court Mr Jadczuk self-prescribed body building drugs to increase his testosterone intake.
He said Mr Jadczuk sourced the drugs from chemists he worked at in Dandenong, Traralgon, Morwell and Kilsyth from 2003-06.
He said Mr Jadczuk also possessed drugs to offset the side effects of raised sex hormones, which included severe acne, male breast development, psychological problems, and aggression.
Sen-Constable Adams said an audit of the pharmacy computers and Mr Jadczuk's medical history showed records of doctors authorising the supply of drugs were false, or had been been deleted.
The court heard Mr Jadczuk claimed hundreds of dollars in Medibank Private rebates from illegitimate prescriptions.
He was investigated by the Department of Human Services after friends concerned about his self-medicating came forward, defence lawyer Darryl Annett told the court.
Mr Annett said Mr Jadczuk was submitting urine tests every two weeks to the Pharmacy Board.
Mr Jadczuk pleaded guilty to 83 charges, including deleting dispensary records, illegal destruction of drugs without a witness, creating false records, sourcing drugs without a prescription, and incorrectly storing drugs.
Another 65 charges were withdrawn.
Mr Gurvich adjourned the case for six weeks for a pre-sentence report. Mr Jadczuk will appear in court in August
