Supply of articles for administration of drugs

Question 1

Q: What is law on supplying articles for the administration of drugs?

Answer 1

S9A(1) states
A person who supplies or offers to supply any article which may be used or adapted to be used (whether by itself or in combination with another article or other articles) in the administration by any person of a controlled drug to himself or another, believing that the article (or the article as adapted) is to be so used in circumstances where the administration is unlawful, is guilty of an offence.

Question 2

Q: What does s9A(3) add?

Answer 2

S9A(3) states
A person who supplies or offers to supply any article which may be used to prepare a controlled drug for administration by any person to himself or another believing that the article is to be so used in circumstances where the administration is unlawful is guilty of an offence.

Question 3

Q: What is the purpose of these sections?

Answer 3

Designed to deal with the provision of drug kits, especially those for the misuse of cocaine which was prevalent in the 1980s.

Question 4

Q: Does the Act cover syringes?

Answer 4

It does not cover the supply of hypodermic syringes or parts of them, including needles. They are specifically excluded under the Act, as needle exchanges and the supply of sterile syringes are beneficial for the protection of public health.

Question 5

Q: What is the sentence for the offence?

Answer 5

It carries a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment and or a fine.