Final answer:
In NC, only licensed medical practitioners, pharmacists, or other authorized healthcare professionals can possess non-controlled legend drugs. Unauthorized possession by health care providers is illegal and can lead to criminal charges, as demonstrated by the case where a worker's action led to patient harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
In North Carolina (NC), certain health care providers are prohibited from having possession of non-controlled legend drugs unless they are licensed to prescribe, dispense, or administer these medications. Specifically, individuals who are not licensed medical practitioners, pharmacists, or other healthcare professionals authorized by law may not have possession of these prescription medications. The incident mentioned highlights the severity of violations, where a healthcare worker unlawfully obtained syringes of painkillers. Such transgressions are taken extremely seriously, as they can lead to criminal charges and put patients at significant risk, as evidenced by the two patients who later tested positive for HIV due to the worker's actions.