Drug Enforcement Administration--controlled substances in emergency kits for long term care facilities. Statement of policy.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has received numerous requests from State licensing and regulatory boards, pharmaceutical associations, and professional organizations concerning this agency's policy for the use and handling of controlled substances in emergency kits for patients in Long Term Care Facilities (LTCF). The Drug Enforcement Administration has determined that an amendment to current regulations is not necessary or desirable, in that LTCF's are not controlled premises under Federal law. However, issuance of a Statement of Policy will provide the individual State licensing and regulatory boards with general guidelines under which they may, in turn, promulgate specific rules for the use and handling of controlled substances in emergency kits in Long Term Care Facilities. Additionally, this course of action should improve health care services to such patients and decrease the quantities of controlled substances which might otherwise accumulate at Long Term Care Facilities which federally are non-registered locations.