When is it appropriate to possess a controlled substance?

Possessing a controlled substance is appropriate in specific contexts where regulation and legality are respected. As a patient, possessing a controlled substance is permissible when it has been prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and is intended for personal use in compliance with the prescription guidelines. This ensures that the patient has legitimate access to medication necessary for their health.

In the process of administration, individuals authorized to administer medications, such as healthcare professionals, are permitted to possess controlled substances as part of their duties. This includes situations where a nurse or pharmacist has the substance on hand to dispense or administer it to a patient.

Therefore, both being a patient with a lawful prescription and an authorized administrator of medication underline the acceptable circumstances for possessing controlled substances, thereby justifying why the combined option is the correct answer.