fentanyl
Synthetic opioids: the coming wave
Fentanyl has yet to fully enter Australia, but experts believe it is a matter of when, not if, it arrives on our shores. Is there a role for pharmacists in …
State legislation hampers naloxone access
Legislative changes are required to bolster access to naloxone in Victoria, a state MP believes Victorian legislation needs to be updated to enable a broader range of suppliers of naloxone …
‘Do not be afraid to exercise your independent professional judgment.’
PRU director warns that pharmacists are being targeted by criminal networks for high-risk medications, with the council continuing to receive complaints Criminal networks are targeting pharmacists to obtain high-risk medicines …
The week in review
It was a busy week for Ahpra, plus another round of the UTI turf wars and a new critique of the ownership and location rules The latest Productivity Commission report …
Fentanyl use skyrockets
New data shows that Australia uses nearly 2,000% of its need for opioids, compared to some countries that are only able to access less than 1% of what they need …
Private fentanyl: be alert
PDL has reminded pharmacists that every private prescription presented for potent opioids should be treated with high suspicion. In its latest practice alert, PDL has highlighted the issue of private fentanyl and other …
Fentanyl fraudsters becoming ‘more strategic’
Pharmacists must be “constantly vigilant and alert” to the possibility of fentanyl diversion and misuse, warns council Some patients seeking prescriptions from multiple prescribers and presenting them at multiple pharmacies …
Fentanyl fraud alert
Pharmacists are urged to stay alert after fake scripts for fentanyl patches were successfully presented at pharmacies in both metro and regional areas Handwritten forgeries of fentanyl scripts were initially …
The week in review
The ongoing COVID vaccination saga, regulatory issues and good news about e-cigarette supply in pharmacies dominated the agenda over the the last week The Federal government announced it was establishing …
Alert over ‘visually indistinguishable’ drugs
NSW Health issues warning over fentanyl-related substances NSW Health has issued a warning after strong opioids fentanyl and acetylfentanyl were recently identified as likely adulterants in cocaine or ketamine, leading …
Opioids under review
TGA flags changes to prescription opioid regulations following consultation The TGA has given notice that changes will be made to the pack sizes, dosage and advice supplied with prescription opioids …
‘Egregious’ breach of legislation
A GP has been suspended for prescribing alprazolam, codeine, oxycodone and fentanyl without the proper authority A general practitioner from western Sydney has been reprimanded and suspended for six months …