When the DEA comes knocking

EH&S professionals at many research institutions strive to assist in compliance with a myriad of regulations related to the materials and processes essential to scientific investigations. One area where compliance is a challenge at many universities and colleges is the use of regulated drugs in research. EH&S may be asked to develop programs or provide guidance to researchers who do not understand what regulations apply to them or how to comply when a simple reading of codes and statutes does little to clear the fog of confusion. In 2002, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) at our institution was asked to establish a controlled substance and pharmaceutical oversight program to assist researchers in understanding and following regulations, and some of what we learned is presented.