Engaging a DEA compliance consultant has become the norm for those dealing with controlled substances. Here, it is advisable to look for former DEA staff as they are well-versed with the agency operations. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a law enforcement agency of the United States that is constantly defending the country in the war against drugs. It discharges its responsibility of enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations by investigating and prosecuting the violators till they pay for their heinous crimes. Additionally, the DEA also maintains a comprehensive oversight over all the people involved in the growing, manufacture and distribution of controlled substances to ensure that they are in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act. This covers the healthcare industry - from private physicians to hospitals and pharmacies. The DEA obligations encompass everything from controlled substance license registration to records, inventory, storage and even disposal, with the overall aim to prevent drug misuse, abuse and diversion. It follows that health care providers that prescribe, administer or dispense scheduled drugs are subject to a host of rules and regulations. Staying in full compliance with all the myriad aspects and requirements ordained by the laws becomes a tall order for any practice or pharmacy. Help is at hand A DEA compliance consulting service is the answer to all the compliance challenges. Engaging a professional consultant will ensure a clear understanding of the DEA obligations. They will also assist in tailoring and implementing the requisite policies and procedures to meet the regulations. Depending on the provider, the service can cover everything from registration for DEA controlled substance licenses to developing a compliance program to documentation to mock audits and inspections. Moreover, the DEA requirements tend to differ for health care providers, pharmacies, manufacturers and other entities in the supply chain of controlled substances. Therefore, the compliance service will develop a customized plan in keeping with the nature of the business and the applicable rules and regulations. Which one to choose? With the growing risks of illicit drug diversion and frequency of surprise DEA audits, many compliance service providers have cropped up on the horizon. While they may be staffed by competent professionals, it is best to look for a service that comprises of former DEA staff itself! Indeed, former DEA special agents and investigators bring a host of benefits to the table. They know the federal agency from the inside out. They can use their inside knowledge of the workings of the DEA to guide and advise their clients on how to stay in compliance, what to expect from the agency and so on. For instance, The Titan Group is supported by an experienced team of former/retired DEA, state and local compliance experts - ranging from DEA supervisory special agents and taskforce officers to pharmacists and packaging professionals - with decades of expertise covering all aspects of regulatory compliance. They proudly claim, “We know the DEA because we have been the DEA!”
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DEA license holders have to not only comply with myriad regulations, but are also duty-bound to educate their patients about the ins and outs of using the controlled substances in the proper manner. The medical arsenal comprises of a broad range of drugs that provide relief from different maladies and can be used to cure various ailments. Apart from the regular fare, there are a distinct set of medications made of strong painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants and more. These are used in extreme conditions like chronic discomfort, incessant insomnia, excessive pain following a surgery and so on. They are termed as controlled substances and are categorized into Schedules I to V under the federal law. The controlled substance drugs are controlled for good reason. They are not only habit-forming, but can also be misused by miscreants to induce a psychoactive reaction. Whether abused unknowingly or intentionally, these medicines are highly addictive in nature. They can harm the body to the extent of culminating in death! Therefore, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains constant oversight to avoid dependence and other mismanagement of the controlled substances.These drugs can only be prescribed by DEA-licensed healthcare professionals who are required to comply with a host of rules and regulations. In addition to this, they should educate and caution the patients on various aspects like:
Apart from the above, the healthcare professional should also check with the patient whether the prescribed drugs are working as expected, any side effects experienced by the user and even evaluate the need for adjusting the dose. Finally, controlled substance regulations can become quite taxing for the medical community. It is better to engage compliance professionals to ensure that things don’t go wrong even inadvertently! |
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April 2023
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