Civil Unrest QA Pharmacy Prescription Transfer

Drug Enforcement Administration
Diversion Control Division
Civil Unrest Emergency Guidance Document
Title: Civil Unrest Q&A Pharmacy Prescription Transfer
Question: I am a pharmacist who is unable to dispense prescriptions due to civil unrest. How
can my patients obtain their controlled substance medications?
Answer: If you are unable to conduct business, it is recommended that you advise your patients
of the following regarding how they may obtain their controlled substance medications from
another pharmacy.
DEA regulations allow for the transfer of original prescription information for a schedule III-V
controlled substance to another pharmacy for refill purposes on a one-time basis only. 	However,
if your pharmacy electronically shares a real-time, online database with another pharmacy,
original prescription information may be transferred to allow that pharmacy to refill the
prescription up to the maximum number of refills permitted by law and the prescriber’s
authorization. 	21 CFR 1306.25(a).
Please note, all transfers must be communicated directly between two licensed pharmacists and
comply with all other applicable requirements of 21 CFR 1306.25(b) – (e).
DEA recommends that you contact your state pharmacy authority to ensure that you remain in
compliance with state pharmacy laws and guidance. Please contact your local field office for
additional information.
Guidance documents, like this document, are not binding and lack the force and effect of law,
unless expressly authorized by statute or expressly incorporated into a contract, grant, or
cooperative agreement. Consistent with Executive Order 13891 and the Office of Management
and Budget implementing memoranda, the Department will not cite, use, or rely on any guidance
document that is not accessible through the Department’s guidance portal, or similar guidance
portals for other Executive Branch departments and agencies, except to establish historical
facts. To the extent any guidance document sets out voluntary standards (e.g., recommended
practices), compliance with those standards is voluntary, and noncompliance will not result in
enforcement action. Guidance documents may be rescinded or modified in the Department’s
complete discretion, consistent with applicable laws.
EO-DEA 164, June 10, 2020