MEP: Controlled Drugs Flashcards
Legislation applicable to CDs and
pharmacy include:
- The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as amended
• The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
• The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 as amended (herein referred to as ‘Safe Custody Regulations’)
• The Health Act 2006
• Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2013 which affect England and Scotland.
What is the 1971 act?
The 1971 Act imposes prohibitions on the possession, supply, manufacture, import and export of CDs – except where permitted by the 2001 Regulations or
under licence from the Secretary of State. The Safe Custody Regulations detail the storage and safe custody requirements for CDs.
What act introduced the concept of an accountable officer?
The Health Act 2006 –> requires healthcare organisations, and those providing services to healthcare organisations, to have standard
operating procedures in place for using and managing CDs.
What is the Gosport report?
At least 450 patients are thought to have died after the administration of inappropriately high doses of opioids between 1988 and 2000 at Gosport
War Memorial Hospital. In June 2018, the report of the Gosport Independent Panel into failures of care was published.
The report found no evidence that the
pharmacists providing services to the hospital, or the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust drug and therapeutics committee which covered the Gosport War Memorial Hospital had challenged prescribing practices.
What are accountable officers?
Accountable officers are responsible for
supervising and managing the use of CDs
in their organisation or setting. Their roles
and responsibilities include:
• Oversight of the monitoring and auditing of the management, prescribing and use of CDs
• Ensuring that systems are in place for recording concerns and incidents involving CDs and the operation of these systems
• Attendance at Local Intelligence Network
meetings
- Submission of occurrence reports which
describe the details of any concerns
the organisation has had regarding the
management of CDs in a required time frame
• The appointment of authorised witnesses for the destruction of CDs
Is an accountable officer required everywhere?
No, for those organisations not required to appoint a CDAO (e.g. general practice, dental clinic, community pharmacy) then an appointed ‘Controlled Drugs lead’ performs the same role.
Describe CD Schedule 1:
• Schedule 1 (CD Lic POM)
Most Schedule 1 drugs have no therapeutic use and a licence is generally required for their production, possession or supply. Examples include hallucinogenic drugs (e.g. ‘LSD’), ecstasy-type substances and raw opium.
Describe SCHEDULE 2 (CD POM):
Pharmacists and other classes of person named in the 2001 Regulations have a general authority to possess, supply and procure Schedule 2 CDs when acting in that capacity.
Schedule 2 includes opiates (e.g. diamorphine, morphine, methadone, oxycodone, pethidine), major stimulants (e.g. amfetamines), quinalbarbitone and ketamine.
Describe SCHEDULE 3 (CD NO REGISTER POM):
Schedule 3 CDs include minor stimulants and other drugs (such as buprenorphine, temazepam, tramadol, midazolam and phenobarbital) that are less likely to be misused (and less harmful if misused) than those in Schedule 2.
From 1st April 2019, gabapentin and pregabalin were rescheduled as Schedule 3 CDs.
Describe SCHEDULE 4 (CD BENZ POM OR CD ANAB POM):
Schedule 4 is split into two parts:
• Part I (CD Benz POM)
Contains most of the benzodiazepines (such as diazepam), non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (such as zopiclone), and Sativex (a cannabinoid oromucosal mouth spray)
• Part II (CD Anab POM)
Contains most of the anabolic and androgenic steroids, together with clenbuterol (an adrenoceptor stimulant) and growth hormones
Describe SCHEDULE 5
CD INV POM OR CD INV P
Schedule 5 contains preparations of certain CDs (such as codeine, pholcodine and morphine) that are exempt from full control when present in medicinal products of specifically low strengths.
How long is a CD schedule 5 valid for?
6 months
How long is a CD schedule 4 valid for?
28 days
Are the CD form requirements required for all CD schedules?
Just sch 2 + 3
Are CD sch2 prescriptions repeatable?
All are repeatable for 2 + 3
Can you give an emergency supply of sch2 and 3 CD’s?
No (expect phenobarbital which is a CD3 for epilepsy by a uk registered prescriber)
Can EEA and swiss HCP’s legally prescribe all cd’s?
All apart from cd sch 2+3
Do invoices need to be retained for 2 years?
Sch 2 = no
Sch 3 = yes
Sch 4 = no
Sch 5 = Yes
Other mechanisms for the lawful possession
of CDs include:
• Home Office licence
Persons who have an applicable Home
Office licence can possess and supply CDs in accordance with the terms of the licence (e.g. the RPS museum holds a Home Office licence to possess CDs for the purposes of the museum)
• Home Office group authority
Persons who are covered by an applicable
Home Office licence group authority can
possess and supply CDs in accordance
with the terms of the group authority (e.g.
there is currently a group authority covering paramedics that allows them
to possess and supply certain CDs)
• Legislation: class of person Other classes of person specified in the 2001 Regulations, provided they are acting in the capacity of the specified class (e.g. a postal operator or, for specified CDs, a registered practising midwife)
• Legislation: class of drug The 2001 Regulations indicate that possessing certain classes of CDs is lawful (e.g. Schedule 4 Part II drugs when contained in medicinal products and Schedule 5 drugs)
• Patients Persons who have been prescribed a CD by a doctor, supplementary prescriber, nurse independent prescriber, pharmacist independent prescriber, dentist or veterinary surgeon (for an animal).
What is required for possession of Schedule 1 CD’s?
A Home Office licence is required to possess Schedule 1 CDs; however, a pharmacist can take possession of such CDs for the purpose of destruction or to handover to a police officer.
Schedule 1 CDs may only be administered, or prescribed under a Home Office licence. True or false?
True
Schedule 2, 3 or 4 CDs can be administered to a patient by:
A doctor, dentist, pharmacist independent
prescriber or nurse independent prescriber acting in their own right
• A supplementary prescriber (including
a pharmacist supplementary prescriber) acting in accordance with a clinical management plan
• A person acting in accordance with the
directions of a prescriber entitled to prescribe CDs (including pharmacist independent prescribers).
Do you need a licence to import or export Schedule 1,2,3 and 4 (Part 1) CDs?
A licence is needed for a pharmacy to import or export Schedule 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Part I) CDs.
A licence is needed for Schedule 4 (Part II) CDs, unless the substance is imported or exported by a person for self-administration
There are no restrictions on the import or export of Schedule 5 CDs