Controlled Substances Program

UCSD currently holds a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration governing the use of controlled substances (CS) for research, veterinary, and teaching purposes.

UCSD's Controlled Substances Program, administered by the CS Program manager in Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), describes institutional, principal investigator, department chair, and employee responsibilities and procedures.

Principal investigators (PIs) must obtain a CSUA to possess and use CS for any of these purposes:

• Research
• Teaching
• Veterinary care
• Clinical trial (only if your facility is located off campus)
  Note: Clinical trials performed on campus through the pharmacy don't require a CSUA.

To find out if you need a CSUA, see Determining if a Chemical is a Controlled Substance.

Additional authorizations and registrations  from the CS program manager may be required for certain project-specific substances, locations, or purposes not covered by the university's standard DEA registration.

How to get a CSUA

The Controlled Substance Use (CSU) Web application is used by PIs, their lab contacts, and department chairs to authorize and document CS possession and use in compliance with strict federal regulations and UCSD's Controlled Substances Program.

See Controlled Substance Use Application to learn how to:

• Access the CSU application
• Apply for, amend, renew, or deactivate a CSUA
• Add or remove authorized personnel
• Identify secure storage facilities
• Order CS and manage inventory
• Request disposal of CS

Learn more about the CS Program

• Managing inventory
• Storage requirements
• CS FAQ
• CS Training

Principal investigators

PIs are responsible at all times for maintaining a current CSUA, an accurate inventory and on-site log book, and supervising their CS facility and authorized personnel in compliance with UCSD's Controlled Substances Program.

Sabbatical: A CSUA remains active during a PI's sabbatical leave when an acting PI is named in writing and approved by the department chair and Controlled Substances Program manager. Alternatively, the department chair may serve as the acting PI.

Authorized personnel

Authorized personnel are individuals designated by the PI to access and work with controlled substances under a particular CSUA. Final approval of authorized personnel rests with the CS Program manager, following verification of DEA-required information applicants provide on the Personnel Screening Data Sheet.

Authorized personnel applicants must answer questions concerning:

• Felony convictions in connection with controlled substances
• Surrendering previous registrations or having a registration revoked, suspended, or denied
• Any use of narcotics, amphetamines, or barbiturates other than those prescribed to the applicant by a physician

Authorized personnel must:

• Use CS exclusively for the purpose stated in CSUA.
• Maintain a secure storage location for CS at all times.
• Return CS to the secure storage location when not in use.
• Record dispensation of any CS in the log sheet.
• Properly dispose of CS.

Authorized personnel are strongly encouraged to attend Controlled Substances Program Training to learn how to use CS in compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.

Department chairs

Department chairs must notify EH&S when:

• A new PI is expected to arrive on campus in possession of CS
• A PI with CS authorization dies or intends to terminate employment

Department chairs review and approve or reject CSUA applications for their department. Department chairs cannot authorize their own CSUA application.

• PPM 516-7 Controlled Substances for Research, Teaching, and Veterinary Care (PDF)
• Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. §801 et seq.) (CSA)
• Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1300 to end (21 CFR §1308)
• California Uniform Controlled Substances Act