Minister Aglukkaq announces new rules to address prescription drug abuse

Calls on provinces, territories and medical professionals to also take
action

OTTAWA, Nov. 19, 2012 /CNW/ – To launch National Addictions Awareness
Week, today the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and
Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance,
announced tough new licencing rules that aim to clamp down on the
diversion of controlled release formulations of oxycodone products -
prescription drugs that are at a high risk of abuse.

In a letter to her provincial and territorial counterparts, the federal Minister of
Health called upon provincial and territorial governments, as well as
medical professionals, to look at what they can do within their areas
of jurisdiction to tackle the serious problem of prescription drug
abuse.

“Our Government is taking action to tackle prescription drug abuse,”
said Minister Aglukkaq. “This is a serious issue that destroys the
lives of individuals and families, and I believe we have the
responsibility to work with the provinces and territories to address it
head-on.”

Under the authority of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA),
Health Canada will now impose tough new conditions on the licences of
dealers who manufacture and distribute products that contain the
controlled release formulation of oxycodone.  For example, dealers will
be required to report spikes in sales and changes in distribution
patterns, in addition to Health Canada’s current requirements to report
loss and theft. If evidence of abuse is uncovered, action can be taken,
up to and including the revocation of their licence to deal in certain
types of medications. If required, matters could be referred to legal
authorities.

“Real action is required at the provincial and territorial level, too,”
added Minister Aglukkaq in the letter.

Federal action is only one component of tackling prescription drug
abuse.  Medical practitioners who prescribe drugs fall under provincial
and territorial jurisdiction.  Accordingly, Minister Aglukkaq strongly
encouraged provinces and territories to speak with their local medical
associations about the topic, and to strengthen provincial and
territorial practices to fight prescription drug
abuse, which include establishing training requirements, setting scopes
of practice for physicians and other practitioners, and monitoring
prescription practices. Similar controls, including a prescription
monitoring program, have been applied by Health Canada in recent years
to the Non-Insured Health Benefits program for First Nations and Inuit,
which is administered by the federal government.

There is no basis in the Food and Drugs Act for the Minister of Health
to withhold approval of a drug where the drug is otherwise considered
safe and effective for its recommended use. The law does not permit
approval to be withheld on the basis of misuse.  In the letter,
Minister Aglukkaq confirmed that she would not politically interfere
with Health Canada’s scientific review process concerning generic
controlled release formulations of oxycodone.

“It should not be up to politicians to determine which drugs should be
approved for medical use,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The issue of
prescription drug abuse is bigger than one specific pill, and I want to
make sure that legitimate patients have access to drugs that Health
Canada scientists determine are safe and effective when used as
directed.”

The Minister concluded the letter by stating that if provincial and
territorial governments agree they are unable to control this issue
within their own jurisdiction, she is open to considering additional
oversight at the federal level to further combat the risk of drug
diversion. However, the Minister cautioned that requiring doctors,
dentists and pharmacists to jump through extra federal bureaucratic
hoops could create challenges for patient care.

“I want to make sure that whatever we do to crack down on prescription
drug abuse does not have unintended negative consequences on those who
need this medicine to maintain a reasonable quality of life,” said
Minister Aglukkaq. “Instead of a band-aid solution, I believe we can
apply the law as it currently exists to help make meaningful changes to
the overall system, and make it harder for people to abuse prescription
drugs.” 

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SOURCE Health Canada