How often must controlled substance inventory be conducted at a pharmacy?

Controlled substances inventory must be conducted at least every two years, as mandated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. This requirement ensures that pharmacies maintain accurate records of their inventory of controlled medications, which is essential for preventing misuse, theft, and diversion of these substances.

Conducting an inventory every two years allows pharmacies to systematically check their stock against their records, ensuring that any discrepancies can be addressed, and compliance with regulatory standards can be maintained. Regular inventory checks are a critical part of pharmacy practice, helping to safeguard public health by ensuring that controlled substances are handled and distributed appropriately.

While other frequencies for inventory checks can be adopted for operational efficiency or internal auditing purposes, the two-year standard is the minimum required by law, thereby establishing a baseline for regulatory compliance.