All 10 Questions With Complete Rationales
Prefer to read straight through, or want to review after taking the quiz? Every question, the correct answer, and the reasoning behind it are laid out below.
Question 1
A Schedule II prescription for oxycodone has been partially filled because the pharmacy only has 30 of the 60 tablets in stock. Under the 2019 SUPPORT Act expansion, the remaining balance may be filled within:
A. 72 hours of the original dispensing B. 30 days from the date of issue of the prescription C. 6 months from the original dispensing date D. The remaining balance cannot be filled — a new prescription is required
✅ Answer: B — 30 days from the date of issue of the prescription
Under the 2019 SUPPORT Act expansion of partial fill rules, ANY Schedule II prescription may be partially filled at the request of the patient or prescriber, with the remaining quantity available for up to 30 days from the date the prescription was issued. The previous 72-hour rule still applies when the partial fill occurs due to insufficient stock (not patient/prescriber request).
Question 2
Which Schedule II controlled substance may be prescribed by any DEA-registered practitioner (without a special X-waiver) for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment as of 2023?
A. Methadone (Dolophine) B. Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex) C. Naltrexone (Vivitrol) D. Naloxone (Narcan)
✅ Answer: B — Buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex)
Following the elimination of the DATA 2000 X-waiver requirement in January 2023, any DEA-registered practitioner with Schedule III authority can now prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder without a special waiver. Methadone for OUD still requires dispensing through certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Naltrexone and naloxone are not controlled substances.
Question 3
DEA Form 222 is used to order Schedule I and II controlled substances. How many copies does the paper Form 222 have, and who retains which copy?
A. 2 copies — buyer keeps copy 1, DEA receives copy 2 B. 3 copies — supplier keeps copies 1 and 2, buyer keeps copy 3 C. 3 copies — DEA gets copy 1, supplier keeps copy 2, buyer keeps copy 3 D. 2 copies — supplier keeps copy 1, buyer keeps copy 2
✅ Answer: B — 3 copies — supplier keeps copies 1 and 2, buyer keeps copy 3
Paper DEA Form 222 has 3 copies. Copies 1 and 2 go to the supplier (who sends copy 1 to the DEA). Copy 3 is retained by the purchaser (buyer). Both the supplier and purchaser must maintain their respective copies for at least 2 years. The electronic equivalent (CSOS) must also be maintained for 2 years.
Question 4
A Schedule II prescription is presented to the pharmacy with "5 refills authorized" written by the prescriber. The pharmacist should:
A. Honor the refills since the prescriber authorized them B. Dispense only the original quantity — Schedule II prescriptions have no refills C. Contact the DEA for authorization before filling any refills D. Fill refills only if the patient is in a long-term care facility
✅ Answer: B — Dispense only the original quantity — Schedule II prescriptions have no refills
Schedule II controlled substances cannot be refilled under any circumstances under federal law, regardless of what the prescriber writes on the prescription. Even if a prescriber writes "5 refills," this provision is void for Schedule II substances. A new, separate prescription is required for each dispensing of a Schedule II controlled substance.
Question 5
A prescriber issues three Schedule II prescriptions on the same day for the same patient, each labeled "do not fill until [specific future date]." Under DEA regulations, this is:
A. Never permitted — only one CII prescription may be issued per visit B. Permitted if done for a legitimate medical purpose C. Permitted only for terminally ill patients D. Permitted only if each prescription is for less than a 30-day supply
✅ Answer: B — Permitted if done for a legitimate medical purpose
A DEA-registered prescriber may issue multiple Schedule II prescriptions on the same day for the same patient, and may include instructions to not fill until a specified date — IF done for a legitimate medical purpose. This provision was clarified in DEA rules to accommodate chronic pain patients who need continuity of care. Each prescription must represent a medically appropriate quantity.
Question 6
Under the CSA, which of the following is classified as Schedule V (CV)?
A. Tramadol 50mg B. Zolpidem 10mg C. Cough syrup containing less than 200 mg of codeine per 100 mL D. Pregabalin 75mg (Lyrica)
✅ Answer: C — Cough syrup containing less than 200 mg of codeine per 100 mL
Cough preparations containing less than 200 mg of codeine per 100 mL (or per 100 g) are classified as Schedule V under the CSA. Note: Tramadol is CIV. Zolpidem is CIV. Pregabalin (Lyrica) is CV as of 2005. Some states schedule tramadol and/or pregabalin more restrictively than federal scheduling — always know your state-specific schedules.
Question 7
A retail pharmacy wants to dispose of expired controlled substances. What is the correct federal process?
A. Pour all liquids down the drain and crush tablets before disposal B. Transfer to a DEA-registered reverse distributor or use DEA-authorized disposal method (Form 41 or take-back program) C. Simply include them in regular medical waste disposal D. Return them to the manufacturer with no additional requirements
✅ Answer: B — Transfer to a DEA-registered reverse distributor or use DEA-authorized disposal method (Form 41 or take-back program)
Pharmacies must use a DEA-authorized disposal method for controlled substances: (1) Transfer to a DEA-registered reverse distributor using a DEA Form 222 for CII substances; (2) Use DEA Form 41 for on-site destruction with DEA authorization; (3) Participate in DEA-authorized take-back programs or collection sites. Simply disposing in regular trash or drain is not compliant and exposes the pharmacy to significant DEA liability.
Question 8
How long must Schedule II controlled substance records be maintained under federal DEA regulations?
A. 1 year B. 2 years C. 5 years D. Indefinitely
✅ Answer: B — 2 years
Federal DEA regulations require all controlled substance records to be maintained for a minimum of 2 years from the date of the record. This applies to Schedule II through V records. Many states require longer retention periods (3–5 years) — when state law is more stringent, the state requirement applies. Schedule II records must be stored separately from other records or be readily retrievable.
Question 9
Which of the following is an example of "corresponding responsibility" under the CSA?
A. A pharmacist verifies that a patient has insurance before dispensing a controlled substance B. A pharmacist investigates unusual prescribing patterns before dispensing a controlled substance they believe may not be for a legitimate medical purpose C. A pharmacist ensures controlled substances are stored in a locked cabinet D. A pharmacist requires that all controlled substance prescriptions be in writing
✅ Answer: B — A pharmacist investigates unusual prescribing patterns before dispensing a controlled substance they believe may not be for a legitimate medical purpose
Corresponding responsibility is the pharmacist's affirmative legal duty under the CSA to ensure that a controlled substance prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an authorized prescriber. Red flags (large quantities, cash-only, patients traveling great distances, out-of-specialty prescribing, multiple CS prescribers) require investigation before dispensing. Dispensing a prescription the pharmacist knew or should have known was not for a legitimate medical purpose exposes the pharmacist to criminal liability.
Question 10
A DEA-registered practitioner issues a Schedule II prescription for a patient in a long-term care facility (LTCF). Under the original DEA partial fill rules (not the 2019 expansion), how long may the remaining balance be dispensed?
A. 72 hours from the original dispensing B. 30 days from the date of issue C. 60 days from the date of issue D. 6 months from the date of issue
✅ Answer: C — 60 days from the date of issue
Under the original DEA partial fill rules for LTCF patients (and terminally ill patients), Schedule II prescriptions may be partially filled, with the remaining balance dispensed in multiple partial fills over 60 days from the date of issue. This was the specific exception that existed before the 2019 SUPPORT Act expanded this to 30 days for ALL patients at patient or prescriber request.
📌 How to use these
Answer each question before reading the rationale, and treat "right but unsure" as wrong. The rationale matters more than the answer — if you cannot explain why the other three options fail, you have not learned the rule yet. Ready for more? Work through the other free quizzes or the pharmacy law cheat sheet.