DRUG DELIVERY REGULATOR

1 . A tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a tamper-resistant canister including at least one access compartment, at least one regulating unit, and a locking mechanism, wherein the tamper-resistant canister is configured to withstand a vertical load of 600 pounds (2670 Newtons) without breaking;

a controller operably in communication with the locking mechanism, the controller configured to at least control the locking mechanism; and

a communication component operably in communication with the controller, the communication component configured to communicate with a device external to the tamper-resistant drug receiving, regulating and dispensing apparatus.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tamper-resistant canister is fabricated from at least one of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), PET, PETG, Kevlar, Lexan, carbon fiber composites, Nalgene®, Acrylite®, Duraplex®, Hygard®, Makrolon®, Micarta®, Nylatron®, and combinations thereof.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tamper-resistant canister is fabricated from polycarbonate.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tamper-resistant canister is fabricated from ABS.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tamper-resistant canister is fabricated from a blend of ABS and polycarbonate.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tamper-resistant canister can withstand a force of 40,000 pounds (178 kilonewtons) applied across the median of the tamper-resistant canister without breaking.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a display and a user interface.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tamper-resistant canister further comprises a dispensing unit.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a governing protocol associated with a programmable timer.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one access compartment contains a dosage form selected from the group consisting of pill, tablet, capsule, solution, suspension, emulsion, aerosol, elixir, patch, cream, lotion, ointment, gel, inhalant, lozenge, wafer and combinations thereof.

11 . A method for securing and controlling the dispersion of drugs contained in a tamper-resistant apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a tamper-resistant apparatus having a removable cover, a controller, and a body having a portion thereof configured to receive and retain drugs, wherein the tamper-resistant apparatus is capable of withstanding a 600-pound (2670-Newton) load without breaking;

engaging a locking mechanism to prevent the separation of the apparatus cover from the apparatus body;

programming the controller with a security input to control the operation of the locking mechanism;

programming the controller to facilitate dispersion of the contents of the apparatus body at a controlled rate; and

communicating activity of the apparatus body to an external administrative user.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein engaging a locking mechanism includes rotating the locking mechanism wherein upon rotation at least one locking pin extends through a bore capable of accepting the locking pin.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein programming the controller includes syncing a timer.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein communicating activity includes transmitting apparatus information via a communication component.

15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising sterilizing the tamper-resistant apparatus.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein sterilizing includes replacing the body having a portion thereof configured to receive and retain drugs with a pre-sterilized disposable body.

17 . A method for securing drugs, the method comprising:

inserting at least one dose of at least one drug into a tamper-resistant apparatus;

locking the tamper-resistant apparatus; and

resisting forced extraction of the at least one drug, such that the tamper-resistant apparatus is catastrophically destroyed when the at least one dose is forcibly extracted.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein resisting forced extraction includes resisting a vertical load of at least 600 pounds (2670 Newtons).

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein resisting forced extraction includes resisting a plurality of impacts by an 8-pound (3.63 kg) sledge hammer.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein locking the tamper-resistant apparatus includes programming a controller to lock and unlock the tamper-resistant apparatus according to input from a user.