The DEA is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which regulates the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances. The CSA classifies controlled substances into five schedules, based on their potential for abuse and medical usefulness.

Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, LSD, and marijuana, have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Schedule II drugs, such as cocaine, methadone, and oxycodone, have a high potential for abuse but also have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

If the DEA believes that you have violated the CSA, they may issue you an order to show cause. This order requires you to appear before a DEA administrative law judge to explain why your DEA registration should not be revoked or suspended.

If the DEA revokes your registration, you will no longer be able to prescribe controlled substances. If the DEA suspends your registration, you will be able to prescribe controlled substances but will be subject to certain restrictions, such as only being able to prescribe them for a specific period of time or to a specific patient population.

The most common reasons for receiving a DEA order to show cause are prescribing controlled substances outside of the scope of professional practice or for other than legitimate medical purposes. Other reasons include diverting controlled substances for personal use or illegal distribution, failing to maintain adequate security measures to prevent theft or diversion of controlled substances, and violating state or federal laws related to controlled substances.

If you receive a DEA order to show cause, it is important to seek legal counsel immediately. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the administrative hearing process and protect your ability to continue prescribing controlled substances.

The DEA Letter of admonition is a serious, yet not pressing issue. It is a way for the Board to express its concern about a particular situation. The Board may also issue a Letter of Admonition in lieu of imposing any other penalty or taking any other action, if it believes that the facts and circumstances warrant such action.

A Letter of Admonition is not a public record, and it will not be made available to the public unless the Board decides to make it public.

The Letter of Admonition is a warning to the registrant that future violations may result in civil or criminal penalties.

What is a DEA audit?

The DEA conducts audits of controlled substance registrants to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations. The audits are conducted by the Office of Diversion Control’s Office of Registrant Activities (ORA).

What is a DEA audit letter?

The DEA has started sending out letters to some practitioners notifying them that they have been selected for an audit. The letter indicates that the audit will be conducted by a contractor and will include a review of the practitioner’s compliance with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and DEA regulations.

How long does it take to get approved for a DEA license?

about 90 daysIt takes about 90 days from the time you submit your application until you receive your registration certificate. You may not begin dispensing controlled substances until you receive your registration certificate.

How do I renew my DEA license?

To renew your registration, log in to the E-DEA System and select “Renew Registration” from the left menu bar. Complete all required fields on each page of the renewal form, then click “Submit Renewal Application” at the bottom of the final page.

How much does it cost to renew a DEA license?

The fee for renewal is $731 per year for practitioners and $5,136 per year for pharmacies. The fee must be paid by check or money order made payable to “Drug Enforcement Administration” and mailed with your renewal application form (DEA Form 224). The fee cannot be paid online or over the phone.

Some of the factors that the DEA may consider when investigating a DEA registration include:

-The applicant’s criminal history
-The applicant’s history of drug abuse
-The applicant’s compliance with state and local laws
-The applicant’s business practices
-The applicant’s financial stability
-The applicant’s ability to store and distribute controlled substances safely
-The applicant’s commitment to complying with the Controlled Substances Act
-The applicant’s past performance as a DEA registrant
-The nature of the controlled substances to be distributed
-The intended use of the controlled substances
-The geographical area to be served by the applicant

If you choose to request a hearing, you must do so within 30 days of receiving the show cause order. At the hearing, you will have the opportunity to present evidence and argue why your DEA registration should not be revoked. The administrative law judge will then make a recommendation to the DEA Administrator. The Administrator will ultimately decide whether or not to revoke your registration.