South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

True or False: A prescription for a controlled substance can be filled if written by a foreign prescriber.

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on the substance

4. Only with special permission

The correct answer is: False

A prescription for a controlled substance written by a foreign prescriber is generally not valid in the United States, including South Carolina. This is because federal and state laws require that prescriptions for controlled substances must be issued by prescribers who are licensed to practice in the state where the prescription is filled and who also have the appropriate authority to prescribe controlled substances. In South Carolina, as in many states, the prescriber must have a valid U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration. While foreign prescribers may have the authority to prescribe medications in their own countries, this authority does not extend to the United States for controlled substances unless specific provisions are in place. Therefore, a prescription from a foreign prescriber would not meet the legal requirements necessary for it to be recognized and fulfilled in a pharmacy, making the statement false. While there may be exceptions in certain circumstances or under specific regulations, broadly speaking, prescriptions from foreign prescribers are not valid for controlled substances under standard practice.