What must pharmacies ensure regarding their controlled substances?

Pharmacies are required to store controlled substances securely to prevent theft, diversion, or misuse. This requirement is critical to maintaining the integrity of the controlled substances supply chain and ensuring patient safety. Secure storage typically includes utilizing locked cabinets or safes and restricting access to authorized personnel only.

While it is important for pharmacies to monitor expiry dates of medications to avoid administering ineffective drugs, the primary legal obligation directly related to controlled substances focuses on their secure storage. This helps prevent illegal access and potential harm to individuals. The other choices, such as storing controlled substances openly, giving them away, or not monitoring expiry dates, could lead to significant legal and health risks, which is why they are not aligned with the standard practices outlined in Delaware Pharmacy Law and regulations regarding controlled substances.