The mission of Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA), Diversion Control Division is to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals from legitimate sources while ensuring an adequate and uninterrupted supply for legitimate medical, commercial, and scientific needs.

During this National Emergency the Diversion Control Division is working with our Federal partners including ASPR, FEMA, HHS, FDA, ONDCP, SAMSHA, and members of the White House Task Force; DEA registrants; and representatives of the medical and health-care associations to assure that there is an adequate supply of controlled substances in the United States. The DEA will also work to assure that patients will have access to necessary drug products containing controlled substances.

View DEA guidance document regarding COVID-19 flexibilities here.

Temporary Rule: Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications (5/10/2023)

Temporary Rule: Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications (10/10/2023)

COVID-19 Guidance Documents extended to OPIOID Epidemic:

• Q&A Concerning Administering Certain CS in the parking lot of a healthcare provider’s DEA-registered location during the COVID-19 public health emergency (Effective July 28, 2020, DEA-DC-43)
• Exemption Allowing Alternate Delivery Methods for OTPs (Effective March 16, 2020, DEA-DC-15)

COVID-19 DEA Policy extended to OPIOID Epidemic:

• Exception to Separate Registration Requirements Across State Lines (Effective March 25, 2020, DEA-DC-18)
• Use of Unregistered Off-Site Locations in MAT (Effective April 7, 2020, DEA-DC-25)
• Use of Unregistered Off-Site Locations in MAT (Buprenorphine) (Effective April 28, 2020, DEA-DC-30)
• Use of Telephone Evaluations to Initiate Buprenorphine Prescribing (Effective March 31, 2020, DEA-DC-22)
• Exception to Regulations to Email or Fax DEA Form 222s (Effective March 26, 2020, DEA-DC-019)