Ordering controlled substances just got easier for pharmacies and hospitals

The US Drug Enforcement Administration is moving all applications for ordering controlled substances online. This means pharmacies, hospitals, and other authorized entities will submit their paperwork through a secure web portal instead of by mail.

For decades, the process for getting approval to order controlled substances involved a lot of paper and manual review. This shift to an online system removes a significant administrative bottleneck. It means less time spent on paperwork and faster approvals for entities that need to order medications like opioids or stimulants.