Technician Jamal Watts seeks reinstatement after positive drug test, cites sobriety and rehab

A pharmacy technician whose license was revoked by default in 2021 after a positive drug test told a Board of Pharmacy committee on March 12 that he has been sober since June 15, 2021, completed inpatient treatment and outpatient aftercare, and now lives in a sober-living residence and attends meetings, asking the board to reinstate his credential.

Jamal Darrell Watts said at the hearing that his pre-employment drug screen in October 2020 was positive for cocaine, that he subsequently entered treatment and that he has maintained sobriety since mid‑June 2021. He described an inpatient program at Tarzana Treatment Center in late 2021, an outpatient aftercare program through Kaiser Permanente into early 2023, and participation in Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings, with a sponsor and weekly contact.

Watts also described living in a sober-living home where drug screens are conducted and said he has continued to work in health‑care related roles (remote patient-registration and prior-authorization positions) while seeking to return to pharmacy practice. He told the committee he would accept terms of probation, including random drug testing paid for by him, if the board reinstates his license.

Deputy Attorney General Nicole Trauma noted evidentiary concerns in the petition packet: a declaration (Exhibit 2) from a pharmacist, Trang Anh Tran, says she did not write or authorize a recommendation letter that Watts submitted. Trauma told the committee that one of the packet’s four letters of recommendation could not be verified by board staff and flagged the omission as important when the statute governing technician reinstatement requires reliable references.

Board members questioned Watts about his mental-health care, medications and the events surrounding his revocation by default. Watts acknowledged a diagnosis that has included depressive symptoms and that he takes prescribed medications including haloperidol and medication for Crohn’s disease; he said those conditions are treated and under the care of clinicians. He told the committee he did not respond in time to the accusation leading to default revocation because of life stress and financial pressures.

The record was closed after testimony and argument and the committee submitted the matter for deliberation. The committee did not vote at the meeting; a written decision will be issued later.