❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on regulations, prescription practices, and safeguards related to methadone tablets, highlighting concerns about potential misuse and the need for monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 2426Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What are the regulations for the prescription of methadone tablets?
(2) Under what circumstances can doctors prescribe methadone tablets?
(3) What is the maximum number of tablets that can be prescribed at any one time and how often can they be prescribed?
(4) What safeguards are there against a patient ‘doctor shopping’ for methadone?
(5) Are there any data bases available to track people who are accessing more than one doctor at a time to prescribe methadone tablets?
(6) What restrictions are in place with regard to the prescription of methadone?
(7) Are all doctors eligible to prescribe methadone tablets?
(8) Are all pharmacists registered to dispense methadone tablets?
(9) What regulations are in place to mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone?
(2) Under what circumstances can doctors prescribe methadone tablets?
(3) What is the maximum number of tablets that can be prescribed at any one time and how often can they be prescribed?
(4) What safeguards are there against a patient ‘doctor shopping’ for methadone?
(5) Are there any data bases available to track people who are accessing more than one doctor at a time to prescribe methadone tablets?
(6) What restrictions are in place with regard to the prescription of methadone?
(7) Are all doctors eligible to prescribe methadone tablets?
(8) Are all pharmacists registered to dispense methadone tablets?
(9) What regulations are in place to mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2004
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
30 days
2. A medical practitioner can prescribe methadone tablets where clinically appropriate, for any patient except a person who has been notified as a drug addict in accordance with the Drugs of Addiction Notification Regulations 1980. Prior written authority from the Commissioner of Health is required before a prescription for methadone tablets can be written for a drug addict. 3. The number of tablets prescribed by a medical practitioner is at the discretion of the treating medical practitioner except if the medical practitioner is prescribing in accordance with an authority issued by the Commissioner of Health where a maximum dose or quantity has been specified. 4. A medical practitioner may enquire on a patient’s prescription history of Schedule 8 drug (which includes methadone) from the Department of Health when there are any concerns. 5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
3. The number of tablets prescribed by a medical practitioner is at the discretion of the treating medical practitioner except if the medical practitioner is prescribing in accordance with an authority issued by the Commissioner of Health where a maximum dose or quantity has been specified. 4. A medical practitioner may enquire on a patient’s prescription history of Schedule 8 drug (which includes methadone) from the Department of Health when there are any concerns. 5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
4. A medical practitioner may enquire on a patient’s prescription history of Schedule 8 drug (which includes methadone) from the Department of Health when there are any concerns. 5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
3. The number of tablets prescribed by a medical practitioner is at the discretion of the treating medical practitioner except if the medical practitioner is prescribing in accordance with an authority issued by the Commissioner of Health where a maximum dose or quantity has been specified. 4. A medical practitioner may enquire on a patient’s prescription history of Schedule 8 drug (which includes methadone) from the Department of Health when there are any concerns. 5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
4. A medical practitioner may enquire on a patient’s prescription history of Schedule 8 drug (which includes methadone) from the Department of Health when there are any concerns. 5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
5. The Department of Health maintains a database of prescriptions dispensed in Western Australia for Schedule 8 drugs. The information obtained from this database enables the detection of a patient who is seeking to obtain Schedule 8 drugs from more than one doctor. 6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
6. The prescription requirements for methadone are set out in the Poison Regulations 1965, specifically Regulations 51 to 51H. 7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
7. Yes. All medical practitioners registered with the Medical Board of Western Australia are eligible to write a prescription for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to write a prescription for methadone tablets. 8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
8. All pharmacists registered to practice with the Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia may dispense prescriptions for methadone tablets in accordance with the Poisons Regulations 1965, unless a condition has been imposed on their ability to dispense prescriptions of methadone tablets. 9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
9. There are no regulations under the Poisons Act 1964 (WA) which mandate regular medical checks for people who have been prescribed methadone.
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