ROME (AP) — Italian authorities have suspended a doctor and three pharmacists suspected of the fraudulent prescription of opioids.

In an alleged scenario that appears to have similarities to the U.S. opioid addiction epidemic, a physician in the southern city of Cosenza is suspected of writing far too many prescriptions for oxycodone for addicts, who then illicitly sold many of the pills on the street to others.

The suspensions announced Thursday follow an investigation by a Carabinieri police unit specializing in health care abuses.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that the overseas arm of Purdue Pharma and other major pharmaceutical manufacturers are suspected in an Italian criminal probe of underplaying addiction risk, to boost sales.