Police: Former Doctor Gave Patients ‘Purple Drank’ Ingredient

Waycross, Georgia — Authorities say a former Alma doctor dispensed prescription drugs to people who traveled long distances to get them at his south Georgia clinic.

Prosecutors say 71-year-old William Morris Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally dispensing promethazine/codeine syrup, a controlled substance, in November 2009.

Williams acknowledged to U.S. Magistrate James Graham that he provided the syrup to patients, and gave controlled substances to people without a legitimate medical reason, the Florida Times-Union reported.

The newspaper said the cough syrup is a key ingredient in “purple drank,” an illegal recreational drink made with a mixture of lemon-lime soda or fruit-flavored candy.

Williams has surrendered his medical license.