The DEA uses the suspension/revocation tool to take quick and decisive action against DEA registrants for suspicious or illicit activities with regard to the controlled substances. Staying cautious is essential here.

The Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) is constantly monitoring and scrutinizing activities related to controlled substances across the United States. It maintains strict oversight over the DEA veterinary and DEA regular registrants to check misuse and abuse of these potentially dangerous substances.

Therefore, DEA registered practitioners, pharmacies and hospitals have to abide by the myriad rules and regulations as prescribed by the Controlled Substances Act. Any slight contravention can lead to a stringent inquiry or inspection from the DEA. If deemed necessary, the federal authority can even suspend or revoke the DEA license that will prevent the registrant from prescribing, administering or dispensing the controlled substances.

How does it play out?

When suspending or revoking a license, the DEA is first required to issue a Show Cause order to the registrant. This will allow the accused party a limited time to present their side of the story along with a corrective plan of action. The Attorney General will decide based on the specific details of the case.

However, in special cases, the DEA has the authority to directly suspend or revoke the registration even without issuing an order, if it perceives a case of imminent danger to public health or security. This requires the registrant to stop its activities related to controlled substances – be it prescribing, dispensing or administering - at once.

How to stay on the safe side?

The DEA is conferred with this power for good reason and uses it effectively to control drug diversion and other illegitimate activities related to controlled substances. DEA registrants are required to have the appropriate compliance policies, procedures and monitoring in place to avoid any unintentional violations.

Specifically, it pays to watch out for red flags like:

• Patients travelling unusually long distances for a prescription or refill.

• Patient showing suspicious, unrelated or unbelievable symptoms in a bid to get a prescription.

• Early visits to the practitioner or pharmacy for another prescription or refill before they should have completed the supply from the last prescription/refill.

• Specific requests for certain kinds of drugs or cocktail prescriptions, that too for the same patient.

• Duplication in the drug therapies

• Presenting two prescriptions for the same medications on the same day or within a few days.

• Obvious pattern in prescribing. Different patients coming with similar prescriptions for the same drugs issued by the same practitioner or on the same day.

In short, the DEA registrants have to be on their toes and keep a constant lookout for any kind of discrepancies that can land them in hot water with the DEA. They have to arm themselves with the appropriate resources and compliance program to ensure that their registration for regular or veterinary controlled substances continues to stand valid and usable. Engaging a compliance service provider can stand them in good stead at all times!