Controlled Substances

CHAPTER 16


image


Controlled Substances



Learning Objectives


Mastery of the content in this chapter will enable the reader to:


• Define controlled substances.


• Identify drugs available for use in the veterinary practice.


• Explain the importance of logging all drugs used.


• Discuss the importance of managing controlled substances.


• Discuss methods used to inventory controlled substances.


• Describe methods used to order controlled substances for a veterinary practice.


• Identify appropriate documents to order Schedule II drugs.


• List the process used to report the loss of controlled substances.



Key Terms



Controlled substances are drugs that have a high abuse potential and that must be regulated to help prevent those abuses (Figure 16-1). The Controlled Substance Act of 1970 was passed to reduce drug abuse by restricting certain substances with a high abuse potential. The act was established, and is controlled by, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and provides approved means for proper manufacturing, distribution, dispensing, and use through licensed handlers.


image
FIGURE 16-1 Controlled substances are labeled with a “C” and a roman numeral.


image PRACTICE POINT


Drugs with abuse potential are labeled as controlled substances.


All veterinarians are required to have a DEA license to purchase or dispense controlled substances. DEA licenses must be posted within the facility and available for inspection at any time. All controlled substances that are kept on the facility property must be kept in a securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet or safe. The cabinet or safe must be irremovable from the wall or floor (therefore bolted to the wall or floor). Drugs must be placed in a secure lock box within this cabinet or safe. Therefore controlled substances must be kept behind two locks, and access to them should be limited—granted to only one or two individuals.



SCHEDULE OF DRUGS


A controlled substance will have a “C” written in red on the bottle, with a notation next to it indicating what schedule that particular drug is. Drugs are classified into five schedules according to their abuse potential. Controlled substances include opiates (narcotics), barbiturates, hallucinogens (e.g., ketamine), amphetamines, and other addictive and habituating drugs. Class I drugs have the highest abuse potential; therefore medical use of these substances is not allowed in the United States. Drugs such as LSD and heroin are examples of controlled substances in Class I and are illegal. Class II drugs



image PRACTICE POINT


All records, logs, and invoices must be kept on premises for 2 years and must be available at any time for inspection.


produce severe psychic and physical dependencies and include drugs such as morphine, oxymorphone, and pentobarbital. Table 16-1 lists drugs and their schedules.



The DEA can inspect records, invoices, inventory, and facilities that house controlled substances at any time. State agencies, such as the board of veterinary medicine or the board of pharmacy, may also inspect at any time and may have stricter rules and regulations than the DEA. The agency that has more stringent regulations takes precedence. Records and invoices must be kept for a minimum of 2 years for any agency to inspect.



MANAGEMENT OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES


An initial inventory must be taken, then taken again biennially thereafter (be sure to verify state requirements, which may supersede biennial inventory). Drugs must be balanced on a perpetual inventory balance system; this provides a running balance that can be compared with the physical inventory at any time. The American Animal Hospital Association produces an excellent bound controlled substance log book that can be used in any veterinary practice.


A folder should be kept separate from the controlled substance log book to house all invoices that list controlled drugs that have been received by the clinic. Drug listings should be highlighted on the invoice, along with the assigned bottle numbers. A stock supply sheet, or closed bottle sheet, can help keep track of bottle numbers.


Figure 16-2 shows that 12 bottles of Telazol were received on August 4, 2000. Initially, there were no bottles available for use. Once the 12 bottles were added, the initial amount became 12 bottles. The bottles were assigned the numbers 100 through 112; these were the next numbers in sequence (99 bottles had been previously used). The stock supply list states that bottles were checked out to the surgical plain on August 5, 8, and 10 by two team members. Each time bottles are checked out, they must be recorded on this list and initialed by the team member removing the bottle.


image
FIGURE 16-2 Sample stock supply sheet.

Related posts:

  1. Veterinary Ethics and Legal Issues
  2. Security
  3. Pet Health Insurance
  4. Technology in the Office

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Tags:
Oct 1, 2016 | Posted by in EXOTIC, WILD, ZOO | Comments Off on Controlled Substances

Full access? Get Clinical Tree
Get Clinical Tree app for offline access