Controlled Substances

UC Berkeley’s Controlled Substances (CS) program outlines required procedures pertaining to the procurement, use, storage, inventory, and disposal of controlled substances to comply with Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. These procedures apply to all research and teaching activities using controlled substances.

Controlled Substances are chemicals or drugs whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by the government. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists controlled substances into five schedules(link is external). This classification is based on their accepted medical treatment and use in the United States, potential for abuse, and likelihood for causing dependence when abused.

Contact the EH&S Controlled Substances Program Manager at csuse@berkeley.edu for more information, or to schedule a consultation.

Precursor Chemicals

Resources

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US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) List of Controlled Substances

Visit the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) List of Controlled Substances web page to learn more about Controlled Substance Schedules.

Recordkeeping and Inventory

Logbooks and Daily Management:

All purchase records and logbooks for controlled substances must be maintained for at least 2 years and usage logs must be kept in your secure storage location with the controlled substances.
The balance should always represent the amount on hand in your storage location.
For creating dilutions of controlled substances: print and use Controlled Substance Diluted Solution Usage Log for record keeping

Campus-wide CS Inspections

EH&S will conduct inspections of all controlled substance storage locations to verify recordkeeping practices and authorized personnel access. Inspection reminders will be sent and scheduled with the appropriate lab contact.

Campus-wide Biennial Inventory:

In addition to inspections,EH&S will conduct a biennial inventory of all controlled substance locations on campus in a single business day. Once every two years, EH&S inspectors will visit each location and document the amount of controlled substance on hand in compliance with Code of Federal Regulations 1301.11.

Storage and Security

Note: Notify EH&S immediately of any missing or spilled controlled substances: (510) 365-4472.

Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for providing and maintaining secure storage for their CS inventory that meets these criteria:

Store CS according to schedule number:

Schedule II: Store in a safe or steel cabinet equivalent.
Schedule III-V: Store in a locked drawer or cabinet that is inaccessible from above or below.

Install the following equipment according to these standards:

Padlocks and hinges:
- Must have the mounting screws or bolts of the hasp inaccessible when the door is closed and the lock is fastened.
Safes and steel cabinet equivalents:
- Must be cemented or bolted to the floor or wall, or weigh more than 750 pounds.
Keys and codes:
- Must not be readily accessible in a nearby drawer or desk.
- Must only be issued and carried by individual authorized researchers or staff.
Storage units:
- Must be secure enough to show forced entry.
Drawers:
- Must be inaccessible from the upper or lower drawers in the stack. Assign the top drawer of the stack, if possible.

Other Restrictions:

Do not share CS storage facilities.
Do not transfer CS from its original container for storage purposes.
Do not store other chemicals or supplies in a CS storage unit (only your logbook or other cs records are allowed).
Lockboxes or toolboxes that could easily be lifted and taken out of a laboratory are not acceptable.