(in progress – don’t make visible) Veterinary Drug Security & Storage Compliance: Preventing Diversion in Veterinary Medicine

Course Introduction

Controlled substances are an essential part of veterinary medicine, but they also carry significant responsibility. Every veterinary practice that purchases, stores, administers, prescribes, or disposes of controlled substances plays an important role in protecting patients, staff, and the public from diversion while maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations.

This course provides a practical introduction to controlled substance security and diversion prevention in veterinary practice. Throughout the course, you’ll learn why security requirements exist, how drug diversion occurs, and the best practices that help reduce risk while creating a culture of accountability and compliance.

Rather than focusing solely on regulations, this course explains the purpose behind those requirements and demonstrates how strong storage, security, documentation, and response procedures work together to protect your practice.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a stronger understanding of how to identify vulnerabilities, implement effective security measures, recognize warning signs of diversion, and respond appropriately when concerns arise.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Explain what drug diversion is and why veterinary practices are particularly vulnerable to diversion risks.
• Describe the federal and state regulatory framework governing controlled substance storage and security.
• Identify best practices for securing controlled substances throughout their lifecycle, from receipt through disposal.
• Recognize the importance of access control, accountability, and documentation in preventing diversion.
• Identify behavioral and operational warning signs that may indicate drug diversion.
• Describe the appropriate steps for responding to suspected diversion, theft, or significant loss.
• Apply practical strategies to strengthen controlled substance security and promote a culture of compliance within a veterinary practice.

Important Information

Educational Purpose

This course is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is designed to provide a general overview of veterinary controlled substance security, diversion prevention, and applicable regulatory concepts. It should not be interpreted as legal advice, regulatory guidance, or a substitute for reviewing current federal, state, or local laws and regulations applicable to your practice.

Because controlled substance requirements vary by jurisdiction, learners are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, provincial, and local regulations, as well as any policies established by their employer or regulatory authorities.

Continuing Education Notice

This course is not currently approved for RACE continuing education (CE) credit. Completion of this course does not qualify for CE hours or professional continuing education credit.