Rangeley pharmacist Joey McLafferty broke the rules, and for that the state is punishing him.

Worse, he broke trust with his patients, many of whom have few options when it comes to getting their prescriptions filled. They should punish him, too.

On Aug. 12, the state’s Board of Pharmacy found that McLafferty had lost control of his business – Riddle’s Pharmacy in Rangeley – failing to take the required precautions to keep his stock of medicine secure and to prevent mistakes. McLafferty’s pharmacy license was suspended in June after an investigation discovered that three teenage girls working in his store had stolen drugs and then used or sold them. The three girls pleaded guilty earlier this month to drug charges. He was also found to be drinking alcohol during lunch and returning to fill prescriptions.

During its investigation of McLafferty, the state found that more than 8,000 pills were missing, although poor recordkeeping made it difficult to determine an exact number.

Throughout the ordeal, some members of the Rangeley community have rallied around McLafferty, who’s 71 years old and been a pharmacist for 45 years. A petition was passed, which garnered more than 150 signatures of support, and former patients and colleagues testified during McLafferty’s hearing that they never had a problem with the prescription services he provided.

We understand why people stood with McLafferty. He’s a longtime member of the community, familiar to most of the families living in or near Rangeley. The next pharmacy is more than 40 miles away in Farmington. We don’t fault their loyalty.

But serious drugs, including hydrocodone, amphetamines, methadone and painkillers, disappeared from under his nose. The consequences of their use and abuse is untold. And as the warning labels on most prescriptions clearly say, mixing drugs with alcohol can have serious effects. That’s as true for drinking and filling prescriptions.

The Pharmacy Board set down specific steps McLafferty must complete if he wants his license restored. He has to stop drinking, pass random drug tests and seek substance abuse counseling. Additionally, he has to pass a physical examination and hearing test and serve for 14 days under the supervision of another licensed pharmacist, who will evaluate his proficiency. In September, the board will decide whether to give McLafferty another chance.

If we had our druthers, he wouldn’t get his license back or at the least the hurdles would be significantly higher – more supervision for a longer period of time, frequent audits and tighter controls.

The American Pharmacists Association adopted a code of ethics for its members in 1994. The first article says: “A pharmacist respects the covenantal relationship between the patient and pharmacist. Considering the patient-pharmacist relationship as a covenant means that a pharmacist has moral obligations in response to the gift of trust received from society. In return for this gift, a pharmacist promises to help individuals achieve optimum benefit from their medications, to be committed to their welfare, and to maintain their trust.”

McLafferty may meet the requirements to get his license back, but it will take more time and more effort for him to repair the damage done to the relationship with his patients. We’re not ready to trust him to fill our prescriptions.