What's the key function of The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001?

Question

Legislation and Policies relevant to care practice(UK)

Answer 1

The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, which come into effect on 1 February, are a consolidation of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 and its subsequent amendments. They are almost identical in terms to the 1985 Regulations and therefore there is little change for pharmacists in hospital or community practice.

Benzodiazepines (and eight other substances) and anabolic drugs were listed in Part II and Part I, respectively, of Schedule 4 of the 1985 Regulations. These were commonly referred to as CD (Benz) and CD (Anab) for simplicity. Changes have now been made to reverse the listing, so that Part I becomes Part II and vice versa. There is no need to change the descriptions, although the effect is that CD (Benz) now means Schedule 4 Part I. This change was accompanied by a tightening of the controls on benzodiazepine drugs, so that the degree of control now moves progressively through the Schedules, with Schedule 1 being the most stringent and Schedule 5 the least stringent.

The new controls on benzodiazepines include restrictions on import and export, and possession without authority becomes an offence. The increased controls will have no impact on most hospital and community pharmacists.

As Schedule 4 Controlled Drugs, benzodiazepines are not subject to the requirement for community pharmacies and publicly funded hospitals to keep a CD register (a requirement only for Schedule 2 drugs), but any person possessing or supplying CDs under the terms of a Home Office licence (which could include some private hospitals) should check with the Home Office (advice on legal changes, tel [phone]; enquiries in respect of production, supply and possession authorisations, tel [phone]; applications for and enquiries about import and export licences, tel [phone]).