DANGEROUS DRUGS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1929, Page 3

DANGEROUS DRUGS

CONTROL OF SALES. NEW REGULATIONS ISSUED. '[‘ho new regulations which have just Ih.oh issued under the . Dangerous Oruks Act, J 027, contain much that is of moment to doctors, dentists, wholesale and retail manufacturing chemists, veterinary surgeons and others handling or prescribing such drugs. It can hardly be said that what is usually described as the “dope traffic'' is prevalent in New Zealand, but the feeling exists that it is wiser to tighten the. restrictions before that situation arises rather than wait until there is a definite call to take such action. The argument is that prevention is better than cure. The Health Department has now issued an explanatory circular, dealing with the new regulations, a copy of which can be obtained by those, interested. The Dangerous Drugs Act was passed as- a measure necessary to comply with New Zealand’s obligations under the Geneva Convention of Uie League of Nations and theTegulutions constitute the necessary machinery to carry out the provisions of the A d, and follow closely the llritis.li and Australian regulations. Every endeavour has been made to keep m.|uiroment.s down to the minimum consistent with the obligatory vigilance imposed by the Act.

THE DANGER LIST. The drugs to which the Dangovou, | Drugs Act applies are briefly as follows; Raw opium, prepared opium, medicinal opium, morphine (jkm-cou-tage calculated as in respect of anylidrous morphine) and its salts, ilia cetylmorphine (commonly known as diamorphine or heroin) and its salts, any preparation containing diacetylmorpbiae, coca-leaf, crude cocaine, cocaine (including synthetic cocaine) and its salts,, eegonine (means laevoeegonine, and includes any derivations of ecognine from which it may be recovered industrially) and its salts, Indian hemp (any resin, preparation, extract-,, or tincture of Indian hemp). Any preparation containing not, more than 0.2 per cent of morphine not more than O.L per cent of cocaine or ecognine falls outside the Act. There are certain exemptions 'which are quoted in detail in tho circular. All prescriptions without exception must lie in writing and signed personally iby the, practitioner, with name and address of the person for whose use the prescription is given. Where an unusual amount, or what might he regarded as a dangerous dose of a dangerous drug is prescribed, thy. dose has to be underlined. The proscription is to be retained by the person dispensing it, a point which is of general interest, as many people have taken old prescriptions to the clicmis' to have them made up in the hope that they may relieve or cure a return of some indisposition. They will mow have to secure a fresh prescription from the medical man unless provision is made for further supplies.

DLSPENSING P R ESOIMPT! < >NS. There arc a number of special oiiilitions which include the following- \ medical practitioner in emergency may, orally or by telephone, direct a registered chemist to whom ho is known personally to dispense lor a person a dangerous drug, but shah forthwith reduce such proscription to writing and transmit it to the chemist; may only prescribe in any ease for the purposes of medical treatment; must understand that his prescription shall he dispensed only once, unless, it lie so directs on the prescription, it may ihc dispensed on not more than three occasions, at intervals to be specified on the prescription ;’no person other than a medical' practitioner can give an oral prescription or .i “repeat” prescription ; pivscribers should instruct the recipient of a prescription that it cannot he repeated without written authority (or, in ihe case of authorised repeats, the number of repeats—not more than two). Following a list of examples of prescriptions. the circulars states that because of their heroin content, not only systematic pharmaceutical preparations such as “linctus heroin,” Ir.ii also proprietary preparations, such as “piiiheroin.” syrup cocillami co.. etc., come within the scope of dangerous drugs. ‘Examples of dentals and veterinary prescriptions are also given, and a veterinary prescription must also hear the words “for animal treatment only.” The circular goes on to state: “ft is desired to impress as strongly as possible on doctors, dentists and veterinary surgeons the importance of observing those requirements strictly wliim giving a prescription. Any irregularity may lead to a di lay. am! it is extremely unfair to the ch-'in'st. that he should bo placed in the -position of delaying an important prescription anti possibly offending bol.lt Urn prescriner and patient in preference to committing a breach of the law.”

To connection will veterinary work, farmers and stockowners will be :ntercsted to learn that if the mixtures they use are sufficiently diluted they will fall outside the operation of the Act. Sheep dips, sprays, and other shiiilar poisonous compounds used fo'r agricultural and horticultural purposes are not affected by the regulations.