Controlled Drugs

Rapid-acting antidepressants face a slow journey to wider use

Evidence is mounting for the effectiveness of rapid-acting antidepressants for treatment-resistant depression — but will their use ever take off in the NHS?…

Government plans to make nitrous oxide a controlled substance

Chris Philp, minister for crime, policing and fire, said the widespread availability of nitrous oxide, as well as a rise in reports of social and health harms from the substance, meant the government would control nitrous oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.…

Diamorphine shortage causing former heroin users to relapse for first time in a decade, charities warn

With all strengths of diamorphine injections currently out of stock, charities have said patients are returning to using heroin.…

How to handle controlled drugs in hospitals using automation and digital systems

A review of the existing legislation and guidance on controlled drugs, compiled to offer a way forward as legislation continues to develop.…

Controlled drugs prescribing and management in hospital is lagging behind — it must go fully digital

A combination of outdated guidance and misconceptions about the law mean secondary care is missing a golden opportunity to reduce bureaucracy and improve patient safety.…

Bespoke rulers invented by hospital pharmacy staff led to 35% reduction in loss of controlled liquid drugs

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust — where the rulers were trialled — says the device could save the NHS £1.2m a year if used across all NHS hospital trusts.…

Pharmacists could supply and administer naloxone as part of new drugs strategy, says government

The proposals come as deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales rose by almost 4% in 2020, at 4,561 compared to 4,393 in 2019.…

A pharmacy resolution for 2021: let’s improve the way patients with addiction are treated

There’s evidence that community pharmacy’s disrespect for people with addiction is deterring them from seeking the drug treatments designed to aid their recovery — putting them at risk of drug-related death.…

Pharmacists can help put an end to illicit drug deaths by being at the centre of a new non-medical use market

Providing currently prohibited drugs through pharmacists in state-run pharmacies sounds like a radical idea, but it could be a way of improving prospects for users.…

Medication in contemporary music: what precisely are our patients listening to?

Contrary to popular belief, modern music often references legitimate medications, as well as illegal substances — understanding societal beliefs around drugs can help us help our patients.…