Several federal organizations oversee medications and pharmacy practice in the United States. For this lesson, we will focus on 2 of the most common.
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for approving medications before they can be sold.
The FDA:
• reviews new medications
• approves drug labeling
• monitors drug safety after approval
If a medication is found to be unsafe, the FDA can issue warnings or remove the medication from the market.
The Drug Enforcement Administration enforces the laws related to controlled substances.
The DEA:
• monitors controlled medications
• registers pharmacies that handle controlled substances
• investigates drug diversion and illegal distribution
Pharmacies must maintain proper records for controlled medications.
In addition to federal regulation, each state also regulates pharmacy practice.
Missouri has several organizations that oversee pharmacy operations.
The Missouri Board of Pharmacy regulates pharmacy practice within Missouri.
The Board:
• licenses pharmacists
• licenses pharmacies
• enforces pharmacy laws and regulations
The Board also performs pharmacy inspections to ensure compliance with state rules.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services helps protect the health of Missouri residents.
This department supports public health programs including:
• disease monitoring
• health education
• emergency health preparedness
The Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs regulates controlled substances in Missouri.
This organization:
• registers controlled substance prescribers
• monitors controlled medication distribution
• works with law enforcement to prevent drug diversion
Pharmacies must register with this agency if they handle controlled medications.
See these websites for more information regarding each of these organizations.
Missouri Board of Pharmacy: https://www.pr.mo.gov/pharmacists.asp
Missouri Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs: https://health.mo.gov/safety/bndd/
Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services: https://health.mo.gov/
Drug Enforcement Agency: https://www.dea.gov/
Food & Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/