Which agency is responsible for the regulation of controlled substances?

Which agency is responsible for the regulation of controlled substances?

• A. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• B. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• C. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• D. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Answer: (C)

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the agency responsible for the regulation of controlled substances in the United States. This includes the enforcement of laws surrounding the manufacture, distribution, and dispensation of these substances. The DEA implements the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which classifies drugs based on their medical use and potential for abuse, thereby determining how various substances are legally handled. The DEA's role encompasses monitoring compliance with regulations, conducting investigations into illicit drug trafficking, and ensuring that legitimate medical practices involving controlled substances adhere to federal law. The agency works to prevent drug abuse and addiction, notably through its scheduling of drugs which impacts their legality and prescription protocols. In contrast, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety and efficacy of drugs approved for public use, its focus is not specifically on the enforcement of controlled substance laws. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports public health initiatives but does not directly regulate controlled substances. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) primarily conducts and supports medical research without regulatory authority over controlled substances.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the agency responsible for the regulation of controlled substances in the United States. This includes the enforcement of laws surrounding the manufacture, distribution, and dispensation of these substances. The DEA implements the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which classifies drugs based on their medical use and potential for abuse, thereby determining how various substances are legally handled.

The DEA's role encompasses monitoring compliance with regulations, conducting investigations into illicit drug trafficking, and ensuring that legitimate medical practices involving controlled substances adhere to federal law. The agency works to prevent drug abuse and addiction, notably through its scheduling of drugs which impacts their legality and prescription protocols.

In contrast, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety and efficacy of drugs approved for public use, its focus is not specifically on the enforcement of controlled substance laws. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports public health initiatives but does not directly regulate controlled substances. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) primarily conducts and supports medical research without regulatory authority over controlled substances.