Can you Help the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA)?

"There appears to have been a 2012 reinterpretation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Or maybe not a reinterpretation, but a reinvention of how to interpret it? Some government employee with outstanding ability to read between the lines and in to the psyche of the original crafters of the CSA in 1970? Or some one or group who got a big high five from upstairs for finding yet another way to cause difficulty for livestock producers in the United States?

It seems that back in 2012 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) stepped in to regulate the movement of certain substances used in the normal course of business for a large animal veterinarian. In the state of California vets were notified of the 'new rules' by June of last year. From everything I've read so far, it is only California vets that received DEA notice of "illegal" acts, which strikes me as odd, maybe it was sequester budget savings in advance? Like if they put the squeeze to CA, the rest of the country's vets will get the word, save a little paper or something? Couldn't find a pigeon perhaps?"

To clarify, the CSA is not an administrative body. It is the Controlled Substances Act that was enacted into US law as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act in the 70s and that is enforced by the DEA. It is the US federal drug policy regulating the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of classified substances.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) interprets the Code of Federal Regulations requiring a separate registration for "each principal place of business or professional practice at one general physical location where controlled substances are manufactured, distributed, imported, exported or dispensed by a person.” It is the DEA interpretation of this code of regulations that is causing the confusion and uproar.

The CSA originally created the five substance classifications called Schedules, with specific criteria for classification of substances to be included in each.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), determine which substances will be added or removed from each schedule.

It is the narcotic and psychotropic substances classified as Schedule II drugs that are the subject of the current controversy.

For some reason it appears to be veterinarians in California whose veterinary practices and homes are listed at the same address who've been targeted by the DEA so far.

That just means they can't carry entire bottles of the drugs on their trucks. The thinking behind it is to lessen the likelihood of these controlled chemicals being sold or stolen from veterinarian vans.

Also: Vet vans and clinics are being burglarized by drug seekers. Criminals know they're under lock and key at human clinics - and think they can get it easier from a veterinarian. Rightly sometimes because vets aren't as likely to be watching for these folks.

Veterinarians are human just like anyone else. If they are offered an obscene amount of money to "break" a bottle of some controlled substance - they might be tempted.

If you call and tell a vet your horse has a broken leg - they bring the solution. They aren't stupid. Vets can get around this law by bringing syringes filled with the medications they need. Most farm folks know what's going on with the animal - or the vet asks for the symptoms. By what is said - they know what to bring.

It's really not a big deal.

All the vets I know get some idea of what to expect just by what they are told by the owner, by the vet techs that see the animal first.

Zephania what a great question. I hope everyone takes a moment to contact their representatives and let them know that we want our doctors and vets to have reasonable and practical access to the drugs and items they need to care for their patients. We have been dealing with these round after round of new and more restrictive regulations on all drugs but especially pain killers and anesthetics. All due to a few individuals who abuse the system and break the law. These new rules have been applied to laboratory medicine first. I do medical research. You might be horrified by the amount of time and expense wasted on controlling substances that for the most part were quite securely handled prior to the 'improved' regulations. The DEA puts rules onto our backs first before releasing the new rules out into the general public perhaps because we are for the most part federally funded and controlled (ie, a captive audience). It is going to get worse before it gets better for us I'm afraid. We have to do something. Our animals shouldn't suffer for our stupidity.

Willdo.. Thank you.