Here is a look at the health professionals and companies authorized by DEA to handle controlled substances
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there are more than one million individualsphysicians, pharmacists, and othersregistered under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA registrants, including individuals and businesses, are authorized to handle controlled substances. As of February 2004, DEA reported that it had 1,139,768 registrants on the retail level and 11,725 on the wholesale level, making a total of 1,151,493 registrants. The table below shows the breakdown.
DEA maintains up-to-date databases of registrants. These databases are available from the National Technical Information Service as monthly and quarterly subscriptions. For more information, visit www.ntis.gov/products/types/dea/index.asp .
Retail-level registrants
Retail pharmacy
Hospital/Clinic
Practitioner
Mid-level practitioner
Wholesale-level registrants
Analytical lab
Exporter
Narcotic treatment program
Source: DEA
Judy Chi. Who is registered to handle controlled substances?
Drug Topics
Aug. 9, 2004;148.
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