text: are physicians' dea numbers confidential?   no it's needed for any perscription.  also for class ii narcotics some states require registering with the state, and that also creates a state number.  ie in tx a perscription for demeraol (sp) requires a triplicate form, and in order to do these the doctor must register with the state.    now this doesn't mean you can "demand" a dea number from a doctor for any reason, but if you're getting a perscription they'll have to give it out.