Controlled Drugs

Daily use of high-potency cannabis increases risk of psychosis by four times, study finds

Use of high-potency cannabis on a daily basis increases the risk of psychosis by four times, and in some cities the risk is more than nine times higher, according to a study published in The Lancet on 19 March 2019.…

First Home Office-licensed street drug-testing clinic opens

The first Home Office-licensed clinic that field tests street drugs has opened in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset.…

Pharmacies with drug treatment services can now supply nasal naloxone in emergencies

Any pharmacy that provides drug treatment services can now supply nasal naloxone to individuals without the need for a prescription following an amendment to the Human Medicines Regulations 2015. …

Cannabinoids could help manage spasticity in motor neurone disease

An oral spray containing cannabinoids is effective at reducing spasticity symptoms in motor neurone disease, study results have shown.…

Data on NHS medicinal cannabis prescribing expected by end of March 2019

NHS England is monitoring the prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use, with the first data expected by the end of March 2019, health minister Steve Brine says.…

Pharmacies warned of fake tablets containing fentanyl

Counterfeit tablets that contain the opioid fentanyl have been found in the UK for the first time.…

Cannabinoids have limited impact on MS symptoms

Following a systematic review and meta-analysis researchers have concluded that cannabinoids have limited therapeutic effect on symptoms of multiple sclerosis…

NICE publishes draft scope for new guideline on cannabis-based products for medicinal use

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published a draft scope for its upcoming guidelines on cannabis-based products for medicinal use.…

FDA announces review of opioid approval process

The US Food and Drug Administration has said it will review its approach to approvals of new opioid analgesics in light of the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States.…

Prisoners hospitalised because of lack of access to medicines, MPs find

A lack of access to vital medicines including pain relief, mental health drugs and insulin has led to some prisoners being hospitalised, according to a parliamentary report.…