Going to a psychiatrist in an attempt to get help turned deadly for at least 36 patients in metro Atlanta. According to authorities, Dr. Narendra Nagareddy is responsible for overdosing his patients at his metro Atlanta practice. Nagareddy ran Psychiatry Associates of South Atlanta, which police claim was a pill mill after a police investigation using surveillance and undercover agents proved that Nagareddy regularly prescribed powerful drugs.
Court records state, “Dr. Nagareddy has regularly prescribed excessive amounts of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose, resulting in the abuse and diversion of the prescribed controlled substances.” These drugs were given to patients without presenting previous medical records, MRIs, X-rays, or prescription records, according to an indictment that was issued this week. Among the drugs given were powerful painkillers that were outside the scope of his practice. At least 12 patients have died from overdose deaths and another 36 deaths have been directly tied to his practice. He became well known to addicts on metro Atlanta’s south side as a doctor that you could score drugs from without a hassle. Nagareddy regularly prescribed Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl and Methadone, as well as other highly addictive drugs.
Police dubbed Nagareddy with the name “Dr. Death” because of his actions. At the time of his initial arrest earlier this year, Clayton County Police Chief Mike Register said, “He’s a psychiatrist in Jonesboro who has been overprescribing opiates and benzodiazepine, and the last several years has had a multitude of overdoses and overdose deaths. People come to this person for help, and instead of getting help, they’re met with deadly consequences. If the allegations are true, he is Dr. Death, no doubt about it.”
The indictment that issued this week charged Nagareddy with three counts of felony murder and 59 counts of unauthorized distribution of pain prescriptions. He was only charged with deaths that occurred within Clayton County, Georgia. Other metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies could also charge him with deaths that occurred within their jurisdiction.
