Rhode Island Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence (MPJE) Practice Exam

How often must persons authorized to handle controlled substances conduct an inventory?

1. Annually

2. Biennially

3. Monthly

4. Quarterly

The correct answer is: Biennially

The correct answer is biennially, which means that individuals authorized to handle controlled substances are required to conduct a complete inventory every two years. This frequency aligns with regulatory guidelines to ensure proper record-keeping and to prevent loss or diversion of controlled substances. Conducting an inventory biennially helps maintain oversight and accountability, allowing pharmacies and other entities to keep accurate records of their controlled substance stocks. While other options might seem reasonable at first glance, they do not meet the specific requirements set forth in regulations. For instance, conducting an inventory annually would not provide the same level of surveillance over a longer time frame, and might increase the risk of undetected discrepancies over a thirteen-month gap. Monthly or quarterly inventories would be excessively burdensome and not typically mandated under the law, as they could lead to unnecessary administrative work without enhancing drug diversion prevention in the same way that a biennial cycle does. Thus, the regulation emphasizes biennial inventory as the appropriate balance between oversight and operational efficiency.