Final answer:
When suspicious drugs are received from a vendor, they are handled according to established protocols to ensure safety and legality, such as notifying the appropriate authorities and sending the drugs for testing or analysis. In cases where healthcare workers are involved in illicit activities with drugs, immediate action is taken, and the substances are carefully handled and analyzed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When suspicious drugs are received from a vendor, they are handled according to established protocols to ensure safety and legality. One important step is to notify the appropriate authorities, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. The FDA regulates the medicines that pharmacies are allowed to sell and has specific guidelines for handling suspicious drugs. In addition, the drugs may be sent for further testing or analysis to determine their composition and potential risks.
For example, if a healthcare worker is caught stealing syringes of painkillers and replacing them with unknown substances, the hospital may take immediate action by firing the employee and reporting the incident to law enforcement agencies. The stolen syringes, along with the unknown substances, would need to be carefully handled and analyzed to identify their contents.