Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper

Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper

The DEA is a federal agency for law enforcement under the Department of Justice in the United States. It has the role of fighting the smuggling and distribution of drugs internally. It also foresees the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015). However, for it to successfully achieve its purpose, it shares a jurisdiction with the FBI, Homeland security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As such, it has a major role in the coordination and pursuit of drug investigations abroad and domestically (Sadock, Sadock & Ruiz, 2014).Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper

The DEA collaborates with mental health nurse practitioners to prevent the use of psychotherapeutic drugs for the wrong reasons but only for accurate medical reasons. It liaises with licensing boards at the local, state and federal level to provide guidance on the prescription, administration, and distribution of controlled substances (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015).  Should a mental health nurse practitioner violate any of the outlined laws, the state is mandated to take full legal action against the practitioner. One of the legal actions is withdrawing the practitioner’s license. On the other hand, the DEA is allowed to compel the mental nurse practitioner to surrender their DEA registration (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015).

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My Responsibilities When Having A DEA Number

An advanced mental health nurse practitioner receives a DEA number which ascertains that he/she has undertaken courses that are directly connected with dispensing controlled substances (Manworren & Gilson, 2015). Therefore, after having a DEA number, one is charged with the responsibility to accurately and properly prescribe, administer and distribute controlled substances as authorized by the state and DEA. This is attributed to the fact that, controlled substances can have significant health impacts on the health and well-being of individuals and endanger public safety (Manworren & Gilson, 2015).

How I Would Apply For A DEA Number

A DEA number is specifically allocated to a healthcare provider and permits them to legally prescribe controlled substances and medications. It is basically a series of letter and numbers that identify the type of healthcare provider (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015).   I would apply for a DEA number through registration using form 224 preferably using the online platform. The requirements for registration will be an active state licensure as a mental health nurse practitioner and non-refundable application fees. The online form is completed by filling six sections namely: personal information, business activity and information on the drug schedule, information on licensure, background knowledge on controlled substances, a section for payment and lastly the confirmation section (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2015).    After submission, I will wait for 4-6 weeks to obtain a DEA number.Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper

Maryland’s Requirements for Safe Prescribing and Prescription Monitoring Program

            The Prescription Monitoring Program has a vital role to play in preventing the diversion of the use of controlled substances. Therefore, the program monitors dispensed drugs which contain dangerous controlled substances (Stahl, 2014).  Collectively, this approach helps pharmacies and public health practitioners to identify and prevent abuse of prescription drugs. As noted by Stahl (2014) the monitoring program also tends to promote a balance in the use of prescription data which upholds the skilled practice of health practitioners and their legal access to the best pharmacological care. The Department of Health of Maryland and the Administration of behavioral health oversees this program (Lin et al., 2017).

In Maryland State, the key requirement for mental health nurse practitioners is registration with the prescription drug monitoring program through the CRISP platform. While dispensing, one is required to fill the report for each prescription.  Information to be included in the report is identifiable information about the drug, prescriber, patient and the dispenser (Lin et al., 2017). This means that, for safe prescribing, one is required to comply with Maryland’s annotated code by recording the prescribed drug on a client’s chart and stamp schedules III-V with C in red color. Two different records should be kept by the practitioner for five years: schedule II drugs and other prescriptions. Failure to submit the necessary information subjects one to civil liberties (Lin et al., 2017).

Example of A Drug I May Prescribe from Schedule II-V drug levels

Schedule II

These substances have a high likelihood to be abused and can result in severe physical or mental dependence. Perfect examples include fentanyl, meperidine, hydromorphone, methadone, and oxycodone.

Schedule III

The potentiality for abuse of substances in this schedule is less as compared to schedule I and II and lead to either low or moderate physical dependence but a high mental dependence. Examples include hydrocodone, codeine, buprenorphine, benzphetamine and phendimetrazine (Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, 2016).Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper

Schedule IV

The potential of abusing substances in this schedule as compared to schedule III is low. Examples include Xanax, clonazepam, clorazepate, Lorazepam and diazepam

Schedule V

As compared to the substances listed in schedule IV, substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse and include: Phenergan, ezogabine, Robitussin AC, with Codeine), and ezogabine (Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, 2016).

References

Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. (2016). Schedules of Controlled Substances: Extension of Temporary Placement of 10 Synthetic Cathinones in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Final order. Federal Register, 81(43), 11429.

Drug Enforcement Administration. (2015). National drug threat assessment summary. US Justice Department.

Lin, D. H., Lucas, E., Murimi, I. B., Jackson, K., Baier, M., Frattaroli, S., … & Alexander, G. C. (2017). Physician attitudes and experiences with Maryland’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Addiction, 112(2), 311-319.

Manworren, R. C., & Gilson, A. M. (2015). CE: Nurses’ Role in Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 115(8), 34-40.

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

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Assignment :Safe Prescribing Paper