Purchasing Services

412-624-6648

412-624-9339 FAX

DEA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ORDERING

DEA Controlled Substances Review
Under the authority of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of Diversion Control (OD) regulates the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances in the United States.
Descriptions of DEA Schedule I –V substances can be found at:
A Pennsylvania state registration and a federal registration are required to purchase ControlledSubstances. The Controlled Substances you will be authorized to purchase depends on the Schedules you choose when completing your registration.
  • To apply for a state registration, use this web link:
  • To apply for a federal registration, call the Drug Enforcement Administration office at (888) 393-8231 (Philadelphia) or (800) 882-9539 (Washington), or online at The process takes approximately three weeks.
DEA regulations currently allow for the electronic transmission of controlled substance orders for Schedules I - V. Schedule I and II substances must have the supporting DEA 222 Form follow the electronic order. Instructions to enroll in the DEA Controlled Substance Ordering System can be found at:

Suppliers include:
UPMC PRESBY Pharmacy
McKesson
Sigma-Aldrich
Perkin Elmer
IMPORTANT NOTE: Suppliers are required to track the purchase of various controlled substances / chemicals (i.e. iodine and iodine containing compounds (>2.2% iodine)) and may ask requesting researcher /department to complete additional documentation. The persons required to sign this form are the ones with knowledge of the type of chemical being purchased. This can be signed within the decentralized purchasing unit (your department). /
DEAControlled Substances Ordering Process
Is this a Schedule I - V controlled substance that canbe obtained from the UPMC PRESBY pharmacy? YES NO
  • If yes, provide the UPMC PRESBY pharmacy with the DEA required documents for that substance (see UPMC PRESBY Pharmacy Ordering Process and Documentation Requirements below).
  • If no, place an order through PantherBuy or PRISM. Provide Purchasing Services or the supplier directly with the DEA required documents for that substance (see Documentation Requirements below).
Is the supplier setup in PantherBuy? YES NO
  • If yes, place order through PantherBuy and fax or email required documents directly to the supplier (see Documentation Requirements below).
  • If no, place order through PRISM and fax or email required documents (see Documentation Requirements below) either directly to the supplier or to Purchasing Services:
  • If the order total is $5000 or less, place the order through PRISM directly to the supplier.
  • If the order is over $5000, submit either a paper or electronic requisition to Purchasing Services.
  • If the supplier is not setup in the PRISM supplier database, submit a completed Supplier Verification Form to Purchasing Services (

UPMC PRESBY Pharmacy Ordering Process
Researcher/ Physicians may obtain DEA controlled substances from UPMC PRESBY Pharmacy located at:
UPMC Presbyterian Pharmacy
Pharmacy Department
PRESBY Campus & DeSoto at O’Hara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: (412) 647-3350
Fax: (412) 647-3350
  • Please call with questions regarding availability and delivery schedule.
  • Fax copy of requisition (with 32-digit U of Pittsburgh account number), DEA Form 222 (if required) and copy of federal and state physician registration certificates. Originals will be required at time of pick-up.

Documentation Requirements
Schedule I and II controlled substances: Send a copy of requesting physician’s state and federal DEA registration/license and DEA Form 222.
Schedule III, IV and V controlled substances: Send a copy of requesting physician’s state and federal DEA registration/license.
Questions about ordering DEA controlled substances?Please contact Purchasing Services for assistance at 412-624-6648.