What is required for physicians to prescribe narcotics?

• A. Special narcotic license
• B. DEA number
• C. Prescription regulations
• D. Food and Drug Act (Canada)

Answer: (A)

Prescribing controlled substances relies on having formal authorization to handle regulated medicines. In the United States, that authorization comes from registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration, which assigns a unique DEA number to the physician. This number confirms the prescriber is legally allowed to prescribe narcotics and creates a traceable link between the clinician and their controlled-substance prescriptions, supporting accountability and preventing diversion. General prescription rules govern how prescriptions are written, but they don’t grant the specific authority to prescribe narcotics—that authority comes from the DEA registration. The Canadian Food and Drug Act applies to Canada and isn’t the credential used in the U.S., and a separate “special narcotic license” isn’t the standard mechanism. So, the required credential is the DEA number.