Consultation on Draft Misuse of Drugs Regulations

Consultation has now opened on the Draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988.

The purpose of this consultation is to seek input from stakeholders and interested parties on the text of Draft Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2013 which will amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988.

The main proposed amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations are set out below. For a more detailed explanation of the proposed amendments, please refer to the enclosed Explanatory Document.

• Strengthen controls on the import, export and possession of benzodiazepines and z-drugs to address the problem of illicit trading in these products
• Improve and update the rules governing the prescribing and supply of benzodiazepines and z-drugs within the health system
• Amend the Regulations to allow a newly authorised medicinal product containing cannabis extract to be prescribed, supplied and used by patients
• Apply new controls or update the level of controls under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to a number of substances
• Update the list of controlled drugs and the clinical situations in which those controlled drugs may be prescribed by nurse prescribers

Please visit the Department of Health website for more information

Source: dohc.ie