MEDI7111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Buprenorphine, Dextroamphetamine, Pethidine
Regulation of Drugs of Dependence
Drugs of Dependence Unit – RBWH
The DDU was set up to minimise harm to individuals and to the community from the
inappropriate use and prescribing of controlled drugs. This unit is responsible for the
Queensland Opioid Treatment Program (official name for the methadone program), Health
(Drugs & Poisons) Regulations 1996 and collecting/providing information on controlled
drugs. It is staffed by senior nurses with ATODS experience, one doctor and other support
staff.
Queensland Opioid Treatment Program (QOTP)
The QOTP is a program in which alternate opioids are prescribed and supplied to patients
with opioid dependence. The prescribed drugs are methadone (syrup & liquid only),
Subutex (buprenorphine) and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone). Physeptone
(methadone tablets) and temgesic (low dose buprenorphine) are not on the QOTP as they
are analgesic agents – weird legal thing.
The program is open to all patients who are opioid dependent and is free, however the
pharmacies that provide the medication charge $5/day for the service of dispensing.
Prescribing may be done by any doctor who has completed QOTP training and there is no
limit to the amount of time spent on the program or the number of times they can begin the
program (e.g. after relapse).
Health (Drugs & Poisons) Regulations 1996
Approval is required for prescription of all of the “drugs of concern”. Lengthy prescription
of any of these drugs is a long process which is usually helpful to GPs who are being
intimidated by drug users into prescribing.
Controlled Drugs (S8) Restricted Drugs of
Dependency (S4)
Specified Condition
Drugs (S8)
Methadone
Pethidine
Buprenorphine
Oxycodone
Morphine
Hydromorphone
Fentanyl
Codeine
phosphate*
Alprazolam*
Benzodiazepines Dexamphetamine
Methylphenidate
(Ritalin)
(*New additions)
Practical Advice for Junior Docs
If a patient on QOTP comes into the hospital you will need to:
Call their prescriber and pharmacy to determine the dose they usually have and the
last time they collected it from the pharmacy
Let the pharmacy know the patient is in hospital
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
