DEA Revokes Seattle Nurse Practitioner’s Registration for Violating Controlled Substances Laws
Estimated reading time: 4–6 minutes
On June 26, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an official notice revoking the DEA Certificate of Registration for Scott Hansen, A.P.R.N., a nurse practitioner based in Seattle, Washington. This action follows a series of violations concerning controlled substances and failure to maintain proper state licensing.
Immediate Suspension and Order to Show Cause
On July 18, 2024, the DEA issued an Order to Show Cause and Immediate Suspension of Registration (OSC/ISO) to Scott Hansen. The order stated that Hansen’s DEA registration, No. MH7100124, was suspended under federal law because his continued registration posed “an imminent danger to the public health or safety.”
The DEA also proposed revocation of Hansen’s registration, stating that his conduct was inconsistent with the public interest and that he no longer had state authority to handle controlled substances in Washington State, where he was registered.
Prescriptions Written After License Suspension
According to the DEA, Hansen prescribed at least five controlled substances after his Washington advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) license was indefinitely suspended by the Washington State Board of Nursing on March 5, 2024. Hansen issued prescriptions for medications including amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, oxycodone/acetaminophen, and buprenorphine between March 19 and April 19, 2024, during which he did not have a valid ARNP license.
Violation of State and Federal Law
Federal law requires registrants to be authorized to dispense controlled substances under the laws of the state in which they practice. Washington law mandates that only a licensed ARNP may prescribe or deliver controlled substances, and unlicensed practice is unlawful.
The DEA found Hansen lacked state authority to practice and therefore was not eligible to maintain his DEA registration. Writing prescriptions while unlicensed violated the Controlled Substances Act and Washington state law.
Notification and Service
The DEA made multiple attempts to serve the OSC/ISO to Hansen, including visiting his registered and mailing addresses, contacting the realtor involved in the sale of Hansen’s house, and attempting to reach him by phone, voicemail, text, and email. The DEA determined that Hansen was successfully served by email. Hansen did not request a hearing nor respond to the allegations.
Grounds for Revocation
According to the DEA, there are two main grounds for revocation:
- Hansen lost his state authority to handle controlled substances when his ARNP license was suspended.
- Hansen’s continued registration was inconsistent with the public interest because of repeated violations, including prescribing without state authorization.
The DEA found that these actions were outside the usual course of professional practice and were not for a legitimate medical purpose.
Public Interest Consideration
The Controlled Substances Act requires DEA registrants to comply with strict rules to help control drug abuse and trafficking. Hansen’s actions, issuing prescriptions without proper state licensing, went against these principles.
The DEA weighed all required public interest factors and determined that Hansen’s violations, along with his failure to respond or take responsibility, provided a strong basis for revocation.
Order Effective July 28, 2025
The DEA revoked Scott Hansen’s DEA Certificate of Registration, No. MH7100124, effective July 28, 2025. The DEA also denied any of Hansen’s pending applications for renewal, modification, or additional registrations for controlled substances in Washington.
The order was signed by Acting Administrator Robert J. Murphy on June 20, 2025, and officially published in the Federal Register.
Contact Information
Any challenges to the DEA’s findings can be filed within fifteen calendar days of the order.
Reference
Federal Register Volume 90, Number 121 (Thursday, June 26, 2025), Pages 27338-27341, Document Number 2025-11731.
Legal Disclaimer
This article includes content collected from the Federal Register (federalregister.gov). The content is not an official government publication. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, please contact us. Read our full Legal Disclaimer, which also includes information on translation accuracy.
