NewsLocal NewsCleveland Metro

Actions

Man's heart medication among deliveries impacted by USPS shipping delays, issues

USPS generic
Posted at 5:36 PM, Dec 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-18 18:37:47-05

CLEVELAND — For weeks many people have seen delays in their deliveries as we have reported on delivery trucks lined up outside of the United States Postal Service distribution hub in Cleveland. But it's not just holiday orders and business deliveries that are being affected. Some people are dealing with their medication shipments being delayed.

Len Honacki said his arm started going numb about 15 years ago. Doctors discovered he had a heart problem. Honacki had a stent inserted in his heart. He has kept up with appointments and takes medication, which he orders by mail.

“I have meds I order online through my online pharmacy,” Honacki said. “I placed the order on November 29.”

Honacki had about a week’s supply of his medication left, but now he’s out after the delivery was delayed. He tracked his mail online and even went to the post office to see where his medication might be.

“I said, ‘Hey, guys, what’s going on here?’ They said everything’s tied up,” Honacki said.

Tracking records showed that the medicine he ordered had been in Cincinnati, Washington D.C., Maryland, and at one point it was in Cleveland, although he didn’t receive it.

“Everywhere but to me,” Honacki said. “Stress adds to heart conditions!”

Honacki’s latest update showed that he was estimated to receive the medication in the mail Friday, but it was tracked to Hartsfield, Maryland.

“So I know I’m not getting it," he said.

The USPS issued the following statement regarding this specific incident:

We are concerned about any package delay, particularly in this instance involving medication. We are working diligently to locate this package and sincerely apologize for the delay.

The USPS in previous statements regarding delayed shipping said:

This has been an extraordinary year of unprecedented challenges. The Postal Service is experiencing significant volume increases, while at the same time employee availability has been reduced due to the impacts of COVID-19. We are flexing our resources to process and deliver the mail as quickly as possible. We are committed to making sure gifts and cards are delivered on time to celebrate the holidays. Customers needing assistance are encouraged to contact the USPS Customer Care Center at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

RELATED: Northern Ohio USPS district ranks third-worst in on-time delivery in country