Iowa doctor charged in drug clinic case

GRUNDY CENTER (AP) ? An Iowa doctor is accused of running an unauthorized methadone clinic.

The Des Moines Register says Dr. Frank Lamp, of Grundy Center, faces nine charges. His activities reportedly came to light after a registered methadone clinic, Cedar Valley Recovery Services, noticed some patients were dropping out of its program and going to Lamp. The clinic notified the state.

Methadone is a narcotic commonly prescribed as a painkiller but can also be used to wean addicts off heroin or other drugs.

Assistant Grundy County Attorney Erika Allen says the charges against Lamp were related to prescriptions he wrote for three patients.

The Register say Lamp didn?t respond to a request for comment.