Controlled Drugs

Question 1

What are the 5 schedules of controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001?

Answer 1

Schedule 1: No current therapeutic use (possession and supply requires Home Office permission)

Schedule 2: Have Therapeutic use but are highly addictive (subject to restrictions -Prescription, storage, destruction and record keeping)

Schedule 3: Have Therapeutic use but mis(use) may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence (Subject to restrictions - prescription and sometimes storage)

Schedule 4: Therapeutic use but mis(use) may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence (no additional controls)

Schedule 5: Contain such small quantities of substances which may cause dependence that the potential for abuse is considered extremely low (no additional controls)

Question 2

How are schedule 2 and 3 drugs procured?

Answer 2

requires a requisition form:
- Details of drugs requested and supplied
- RCVS number
- Copy retained by the supplier

Question 3

Describe the storage of schedule 2 drugs

Answer 3

Kept in locked cabinet
Recorded in Register

Question 4

Describe the storage of schedule 2 and 3 drugs in vehicles

Answer 4

should be in a locked box

Question 5

Describe the prescription of controlled drugs

Answer 5

Only vets can prescribe
Prescriptions valid for 28 days
Must be written for schedule 2 and 3
Prescription kept for 5 years
Schedule 2 recorded in CDR (controlled drugs register)

Question 6

Describe the disposal of controlled drugs

Answer 6

CD must be made irretrievable before disposal via denaturing kits, soap (tablets) or cat litter

Question 7

Describe the disposal of schedule 2 drugs

Answer 7

Destruction must be witnessed by an independent party (e.g., VMR inspector, CDLO, indepent MRCVS)
Destruction must be recorded in CDR