Ppt presentation

1. Laws governing the use of morphine
Opioids such as morphine are known as class A drugs and therefore regulated
by different international and national laws and regulations
INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND TREATIES
• Opioids are regulated under: The 1961 single convention on narcotic drugs
as amended by the 1972 protocol.
• This ensures the availability of opioids for medical use and scientific work
and to prevent abuse and misuse.
• The international Narcotics control board (INCB), Vienna established in 1968
is a UN Agency and is an independent and quasi-judicial body which
oversees the use of narcotics.
• The National Drug Policy and Authority (NDPA) statute N.13 of 1993
regulates the handling of drugs in the country.

2. Importation of class A drugs
• The manufacturers / wholesalers of class A drugs require an annual license.
• Currently national drug authority (NDA) allows only
1) The National medical stores – NMS (government)
2) This joint medical stores (NMS) (NGO) to import narcotics.
Expired rejected or returned class A drugs
• Unused class A drugs should be returned to the prescriber/dispenser.
• If class A drugs expire or are rejected, they must be returned to the pharmacy in
charge who should contact the drug inspector
• Expired drugs should be destroyed by the pharmacy in charge, witnessed by the
drug inspector.

3. Disposal
• Distribution follows WHO guidelines (NDA)
• Details of the quantity destroyed and the reason for destruction must be
written in the class A register.
Storage
• Powdered morphine finished products and all narcotics must be stored
according to the NDP/A statute/regulations that it is in a DDA cupboard.
- Immovable
- Separate
- Lockable
- Restricted to public access
- Under secure lock and key (double lock)

4. DDA – Dangerous drugs act safety (U.K)
• The key to a class A drug cupboard is held by a responsible person.
Transportation
• The single convention on Narcotics Drugs requires that all enterprises
and individuals involved in the distribution system should be licensed
or authorized.
• The government has in place an anti-narcotic drug squad of the
criminal investigation department (CID) to ensure that narcotics are
not diverted.
Prescription
• Previously the following were the only ones allowed to prescribe by
the law:

5. - Registered medical practitioner
- Registered dentist
- Registered veterinary surgeon
• With the advent of palliative care, the government has allowed
specialist palliative care nurses /clinical officers to prescribe /
dispense drugs including narcotics for home care teams.
Prescription
- Name
- Age
- Sex
- Address

6. • Total quantity of drugs to be disposed in words and figures.
• The form of drugs e.g tablets, orals solution, injection
• Specify the strength of the solution
• A prescription is valid for a period not exceeding 14 days and the
supply of narcotic must not exceed one month.
• The prescription must be in duplicate.
Penalties on infringement of the law
• Section 28 subsection 2 of ND P/A statute states that any person who
is in possession of a classified drug otherwise that is in accordance
with provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable to
• Charge of 2 million
• Imprisonment of 2 years or both.