Final answer:
The statement that only pharmacists can order controlled substances is false; other authorized healthcare professionals can also do so. The FDA regulates pharmacy medications, protecting patients from unsafe drugs, yet also causing pharmaceutical companies and certain patients to face challenges due to the strict regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question about whether the ordering of controlled substances is limited to pharmacists only is false. While pharmacists are indeed central figures in the dispensing of controlled substances, the ordering and management of these substances also involve other healthcare professionals such as physicians and in some cases, specially licensed individuals who are authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This regulatory oversight aims to prevent misuse and to ensure that these potent drugs are used safely and effectively.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the medicines that pharmacies are allowed to sell, which includes a strenuous approval process. While the patients are considered the winners because they are protected from unsafe drugs, the more anonymous losers in this context might include pharmaceutical companies that incur high costs and delays in getting drugs to market, and patients suffering from conditions without approved treatments who could potentially benefit from experimental drugs yet must wait for lengthy approval processes.