Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA):In the United States, every prescription is accompanied by a number that identifies the prescribing physician, with the DEA being a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. The DEA's origins can be traced back to the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930. During World War II, international drug trafficking was effectively curtailed in the U.S., leading many addicts to turn to paregoric, an anti-diarrheal containing powdered opium. This scarcity led to an increase in thefts from pharmacies, hospitals, and other legitimate sources of medication. Additionally, barbiturates were first recognized as a potential drug abuse issue.In 1970, the U.S. Congress enacted the comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, which replaced over 50 previous drug laws. Title II of this Act, known as the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), empowered Congress to regulate interstate drug commerce. It also introduced five schedules to classify controlled substances based on their abuse potential. Drugs were categorized according to their danger level, abuse potential, and legitimate medical uses. Under the CSA, the DEA licenses individual doctors to prescribe medications for medical purposes. This information is partly sourced from the DEA of the United States of America.
