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Addiction physician arrested on narcotics charges

University at Buffalo

A local doctor who specializes in treating people with addictions has been arrested and charged with possession of heroin and cocaine.

Dr. Torin Finver, 54, of Hamburg is a clinical instructor at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He has a practice at UBMD specializing in treating patients with substance problems and preventing addiction. He was also medical director for Horizon Health's Terrace House on Elm Street in Buffalo, a well-known treatment center for people with substance problems.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Finver was arrested and charged with importation of a controlled substance. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $1 million fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Astorga says the arrest followed U.S. Customs and Border Protection finding several shipments of drugs from overseas to Finver's home in Hamburg. She says at least two of them tested positive for controlled substances, identified as heroin and cocaine.

Officers are not identifying what was in all of the packages. Astroga says Finver made an initial appearance before U.S Magistrate Judge Michael Roemer and was released on conditions.

Credit Terrace House

UB says it is still gathering information about Finver's actions.

"At this time, the university has no reason to believe that the charges are related to Dr. Finver’s duties at the university," UB said in a statement. "The university has a process in place to address instances where an employee is accused of a crime. We will take necessary steps to respond, with the understanding that all people accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty."

Horizon Health says he is no longer delivering services to patients.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.