From time to time there are questions that physicians and pharmacists have about how federal controlled substances requirements pertain to specific situations, the answers to which may not be readily apparent in federal regulations. Recently, Dr. Howard Heit and David Joranson asked DEA for clarification about the practice of writing more than one prescription for a controlled substance at a time for a patient to cover an extended period of treatment. DEA provided its response, which can be accessed below.

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