A medical administrative assistant receives a phone call from a patient who requests to reschedule an upcoming appointment. Which of the following actions should the assistant take

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) primarily focuses on public health and safety, including disease prevention and health promotion. While they provide valuable health information, they do not specialize in the regulations surrounding controlled substances or their disposal, making them an unsuitable source for this specific inquiry.

As the federal agency responsible for enforcing the controlled substances laws and regulations, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) offers authoritative guidance on the disposal of prescription medications, particularly controlled substances. They provide specific instructions and resources to ensure that patients can discard these medications safely and legally, thus making them the most relevant contact for this situation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is an international public health agency that focuses on global health issues and epidemiological research. While their work is critical for health policy and disease control, they do not address the disposal of individual medications, especially controlled substances, making them an inappropriate source for this specific concern.