What is a key restriction regarding controlled substances?

The key restriction regarding controlled substances is that they cannot be ordered verbally without regulation. This is an important aspect of managing controlled substances to ensure both patient safety and compliance with legal standards.

Verbal orders can pose risks, such as misunderstandings or miscommunication, which could lead to medication errors. Therefore, strict regulations govern how and when controlled substances can be prescribed and ordered. This ensures that such medications are used appropriately and only when necessary, mitigating risks associated with misuse or abuse.

In some cases, regulations may allow for verbal orders, but these typically need to be followed by a written confirmation or comply with specific guidelines aimed at safeguarding public health. This highlights the seriousness with which controlled substances are treated in the healthcare system.

Other options, such as the idea that controlled substances can be obtained without a prescription or that anyone can write prescriptions for them, lack validity as there are strict legal requirements governing their dispensation. Similarly, only certain healthcare professionals, such as qualified pharmacists and physicians, have the authority to document and prescribe medications, making it inaccurate to state that documentation is confined solely to nurses.