On Saturday, October 27, 2018, Virginia will participate in the 16th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a DEA sponsored initiative providing citizens of the Commonwealth with an opportunity to dispose of potentially dangerous controlled substances from their medicine cabinets in an environmentally safe manner.

Healthcare practitioners are encouraged to advise patients about this service and to remind them it is free and anonymous with no questions asked. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites coordinated with law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia.

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to read a letter from DHP Director Dr. David Brown.

You can use the DEA website to enter your zip code to find a local collection site.

Fraudulent Prescription Alert

Fraudulent prescriptions for Promethazine with Codeine have been seen in the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia areas. Contact your local law enforcement or call 911 if you suspect that you have been presented with one of these fraudulent prescriptions.

Hurricane Information

Virginia Board of Pharmacy offers the following information from the recent declared state of emergency.

Important Hurricane Florence Information (pdf)

Tips for protecting a pharmacy before hurricane (pdf)

Insurance Resources during Hurricane Florence (pdf)

Pharmaceutical Processors

Information regarding pharmaceutical processors and the dispensing of cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil.

Transfer of Unfilled Prescriptions for Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances

DEA has clarified the conditions under which a prescription for an unfilled prescription for a Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substance may be transferred.  Click here to read more.

Collaborative Practice Agreements

A resource guide from the CDC for pharmacists to use in developing and executing collaborative practice agreements within team-based care.

Regulations for Prescribing Opioids, Buprenorphine; New PMP Reporting Requirements; Naloxone Brochure Updated

Click here to view the Regulations Governing the Prescribing of Opioids and Buprenorphine - effective 8/8/2018 

FAQs about the Prescribing of Buprenorphine for Addiction and Opioids for Pain

Naloxone protocol - Pharmacists shall follow this protocol when dispensing naloxone pursuant to an oral, written or standing order to a person to administer to another person believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose as authorized in §54.1-3408. 

Protocol for the Prescribing of Naloxone and Dispensing by Trainers, adopted June 27, 2017 - Persons authorized by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to train individuals on the administration of naloxone for opioid overdose reversal shall follow this protocol when dispensing naloxone to a person, without charge or compensation, for administration to another person believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose as authorized in subsection Y of § 54.1-3408.

REVIVE! Pharmacy Dispensing Brochure - This brochure is designed for pharmacists to distribute along with naloxone.

Additional information regarding REVIVE!, the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education program may be accessed here.

Drug Disposal

How a consumer may properly dispose of unwanted prescription drugs.
Guidance from the FDA
List of Authorized Collectors of Drugs for Destruction

Video Resource - Prescription Drug Abuse - Red Flags for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

An educational video for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help them identify the warning signs of prescription drug abuse and diversion when dispensing prescriptions was created by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® and the Anti-Diversion Industry Working Group, a consortium of pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. This 12-minute video, entitled, "Red Flags," includes a foreword from Virginia Board of Pharmacy Executive Director, Caroline D. Juran.

Information on prescription drug abuse and medication safety (AWARxE)

Read More about AWARxE

Buying medicine online

For information about buying medicine online, visit the Consumer Protection section of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® NABP®) Web site.
For more information:
Buying Medicine and Medical Products over the Internet from the FDA

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses

Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment.  The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license.  For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.