The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reminds registrants that prescriptions, including those created on paper and by computer or a prescription application that is printed out or faxed by a practitioner, must be manually signed by the prescribing practitioner.
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and its implementing regulations specify the requirements for issuing and filling prescriptions for controlled substances. By statutory requirement, a valid prescription issued by a DEA-registered practitioner (or a practitioner exempt from the requirement of registration) is required for dispensing a controlled substance, unless it is dispensed directly by a practitioner. 21 U.S.C. 829; 21 CFR 1306.11.
Here is the full text of the DEA's guidance
For more information about DEA regulations, visit the DEA Diversion Control website.
Keeping yourself informed of DEA guidance such as this will help you remain in compliance with the law. It also can help combat the opioid epidemic, which took more than 100,000 U.S. lives in a 12-month span.
Opioids are just a small part of a veterinarian’s medical arsenal for controlling pain in animals, but stocking, prescribing, and administering these products also make veterinarians vulnerable to abuse from those seeking these drugs for personal use or other reasons.
Steps you can take to protect yourself, your staff, and your clients include adhering to state and federal prescribing regulations, using alternatives to opioids, educating pet owners about opioids, and knowing what to do in case of an overdose.
The FDA has additional veterinarian-specific information and resources at this page: The Opioid Epidemic: What Veterinarians Need to Know
Click the image below to download an opioid information handout for your clients.
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