Misuse of Drugs Act: Substance Misuse and Opiod Substitution

Question 1

What are benzodiazapines used for and give some examples of them?

Answer 1

severe long-term anxiety

• diazepam
• nitrazepam
• lorazepam
• temazepam (previously liquid filled capsules)

Question 2

How are benzodiazapines abused?

Answer 2

• addictive and dependant
• when taken in high doses can provide high
• prolong duration of opiod high

Question 3

What is harm reduction, and what are the three principles of it?

Answer 3

harm reduction - reduce adverse effects of drug misuse, supporting drug misusers

1. misuse accepted but not approved of
2. user treated as normal human being
3. doesnt need to lead to long-term eradication of drug misuse

Question 4

What are the controversies of harm reduction?

Answer 4

• does not focus on abstinence
• patients may abuse their treatment
• high costs, money can be invested into different forms of prevention

Question 5

What are three common strategies in harm reduction?

Answer 5

• needle exchange schemes
• nicotine sub therapy
• methadone supply - supervised admin

Question 6

What is the purpose of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971?

Answer 6

• prohibits all activities of CDs
• possession, supply, manufacture, import and export

Question 7

What is the purpose of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001?

Answer 7

• exempts certain drugs from the MDA 1971 so CDs can be used in medicine§

Question 8

What are the different requirements for storage and record keeping of Sch 2, 3, 4 and 5 CDs?

Answer 8

Sch 2 - must store in CD cabinet and record in CD register

Sch 3 - store in CD cabinet, dont need to record in CD register

Sch 4 & 5 - do not need to store in CD cabinet or record in register

Question 9

Give an example of Sch 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 CDs.

Answer 9

Sch 1 - marajuana
Sch 2 - most opioids - morphine
Sch 3 - temazepam
Sch 4(i) - benzodiazepines
Sch 4(ii) - anabolic steroids
Sch 5 - dilute preparations of Sch 2

Question 10

What are the prescription requirements for Sch 2 and 3 CDs?

Answer 10

• name and address of patient
• prescriber signature
• prescriber name, address
• name, strength, form
• dose, frequency, duration
• date
• total quantity in words and figures

Question 11

What must be written on prescription if issued by a dentist?

Answer 11

‘for dental use only’

Question 12

What is a signed order or requisition?

Answer 12

to provide some people other than patients need CDs ie. care home, dentist

Question 13

What are the requirements of signed orders?

Answer 13

• signed by recipient
• name and address of recipient
• state recipients profession
• specify total quantity
• specify purpose of which it is required

only certain people are legally allowed to have a requisition

Question 14

Under what conditions can a pharmacist still dispense a medication dispite technical errors made by prescriber?

Answer 14

must act in accordance with prescriber
- can correct minor errors made by prescriber

eg. prescriber didn’t write quantity in words and figures

Question 15

What is collection by a messenger and what is required to do so?

Answer 15

• written permission called a letter of authority from patient
• letter of authority must be kept as proof for 2 years

Question 16

Can you prescribe more than a 30 days supply of CDs?

Answer 16

yes but it is considered good practice to not do so