In North Dakota, how should controlled substances be stored in pharmacies?

Controlled substances must be stored in a locked cabinet to ensure they are secured and not easily accessible to unauthorized individuals. This guideline is set forth to prevent misuse, theft, or diversion of these substances, which can pose significant legal and safety risks. By storing controlled substances in a locked cabinet, pharmacies adhere to state and federal regulations designed to protect public health and safety.

Storing controlled substances on open shelves would create a significant risk of unauthorized access, making it easy for individuals who should not handle these medications to obtain them. Keeping them in the pharmacy's main register or on a pharmacist's desk does not provide adequate security and could lead to potential violations of regulatory standards. Thus, the locked cabinet is the appropriate method for compliance with storage requirements for controlled substances in North Dakota pharmacies.