Understanding Controlled Substances for Pharmacy Technicians

Controlled Substances Act of 1970

• Purpose: Consolidated federal laws on narcotics, stimulants, depressants, and designer drugs.
• Key Outcomes:
  • Established the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
  • Created five controlled substance schedules based on abuse potential.

Controlled Substance Schedules

• Schedule 1:
  • Examples: Heroin, LSD.
  • Characteristics: High abuse potential, no accepted medical use, illegal (not prescribed or stocked).
• Schedule 2:
  • Examples: Morphine, Oxycodone.
  • Characteristics: High abuse potential, accepted medical use with severe restrictions.
• Schedule 3:
  • Examples: Ketamine, Codeine, Anabolic steroids (classified by the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990).
  • Characteristics: Moderate to low potential for physical/psychological dependence.
• Schedule 4:
  • Examples: Xanax, Valium.
  • Characteristics: Low potential for abuse, accepted medical use with limited dependence.
• Schedule 5:
  • Examples: Cough syrups.
  • Characteristics: Lowest potential for abuse, accepted for medical use.

Prescription Requirements for Controlled Substances

• Required Details:
  • Full name and address of the patient.
  • Detailed information from the prescriber.
  • Date of the prescription.
  • Number of refills.
  • Prescriber signature.
  • If anything is missing, the prescription cannot be verified.

DEA Number

• Definition: Unique identifier assigned by the DEA to healthcare providers for prescribing, dispensing, and administering controlled substances.
• Format: Two letters, six numbers, and one check digit.
  • The first letter identifies the registrant type.
  • The second letter is the first letter of the registrant's last name.

Dispensing and Refills

• Schedule 1: Illegal, no refills.
• Schedule 2:
  • No refills allowed, new prescription required for each dispense.
• Schedules 3 and 4:
  • Refills allowed up to five times within six months.
  • Prescriptions can be transferred to another pharmacy once.
• Schedule 5:
  • Often allow refills if prescription-based.
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) products are kept behind the counter with purchase regulations.

Regulatory Compliance

• State Variations: Refill regulations vary by state.
• Best Practices: Always consult your State Board of Pharmacy and the DEA for the latest guidelines.