DISPOSITION OF ILLICIT SUBSTANCES

To advocate that healthcare organizations be required to develop procedures for the disposition of illicit substances brought into a facility that ensure compliance with applicable laws and accreditation standards; further,

To advocate that healthcare organizations be required to include pharmacy leaders in formulating such procedures.

Rationale

Hospitals and health systems often treat patients that have in their possession illicit substances (e.g., Schedule I drugs, or other illegal or illegally possessed substances), which requires the facility to make decisions about how to secure the substances, ensure the appropriate chain of custody, and document possession in the patient’s medical record, as well as decide whether to inform law enforcement. Such decisions benefit from the organization’s legal counsel making a determination for the organization, in consultation with pharmacy leaders who can help interpret the pharmacist-in-charge’s legal requirements and related accreditation standards.