PSY6 Law: Controlled Drugs

Controlled drugs are those which carry a risk of ❌ to an individual or ❌. The Misuse of Drugs Act & Regulations governs both illicit and ❌ use of controlled drugs.

How long can they prescribe for?
• Medical practitioners & Nurse practitioners
- Class A & B = ❌
- Class C = ❌

• Dentists
- ❌ days only

• Designated prescriber nurse
From Schedule ❌ only for ❌

• Designated prescriber pharmacist
Schedule ❌ only for ❌

• Midwives
Can prescribe from Schedule ❌ of the Regulations (pethidine, morphine or fentanyl) for ❌ month

The prescription:
Class A & Class B CD and specified Class C CD prescriptions must be ❌ by prescriber on a ❌ form – a triplicate prescription form
OR can be on a paper form that is electronically generated from an ❌ system (New Zealand Electronic Prescription Service.)

Prescriptions for controlled drugs must be dispensed within ❌ days of the prescribing date.

Section 24 of the Act prohibits prescribing to a person whom the prescriber believes to be ❌ on
that or any controlled drug, unless that prescriber:
- is a gazetted practitioner; or
- is working in a gazetted agency;
ie ❌ clinic.

In accordance with Regulation 31 of the Regulations, the ❌ period of supply is no greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of:
- ❌ month for Class A & Class B controlled drugs
- ❌ months for Class C controlled drugs.

❌ (CD B1) & ❌ (CD B2) can be supplied by:
• A medical practioner specialising in paeds or psych (for ❌ disorders)
• A medical practioner specialising in internal medicine – but only for tx of ❌
• Or on the recommendation of one of the above.

❌
• Must be prescribed by a medical practitioner

Cannabinoid products
• Cannabis products are Class ❌ Controlled Drugs
• Sativex is the only registered product approved for use. The only approved indication is for ❌. It must be endorsed “multiple sclerosis” on the prescription and be written by a ❌, or by a medical practitioner with the ❌ of a neurologist.

Health Information Privacy Code (HIPC):
- Can only disclose health information to the ❌, not to others. HIPC Rule 11(2)(j)
- Can only disclose information if it is a serious and immediate ❌ to public health, public safety or the life or health of an individual, and you have to tell the appropriate people, not ring around pharmacies. HIPC Rule 11(2)(d)(ii)

Needles & Syringes
First national needle exchange programme in the world!
• Originally GP and pharmacist run service, now also includes ❌
• ❌ – to reduce potential harm from injecting drug use

Pharmacists and ❌ may sell needles & syringes:
• From/at a ❌
• To a person aged over ❌ years
• To a person aged under 16 yrs if they have a ❌