Ottawa may broaden authority to prescribe controlled drugs

Some health professionals might be allowed to prescribe addictive drugs such as morphine and Oxycontin

Ottawa (15 July 2007) - The Harper government is seriously considering extending the right to prescribe controlled substances such as morphine, Oxycontin and other addictive drugs to a range of health professionals, including podiatrists, midwives and nurse practitioners.

The National Post, often used by the Harper government to float controversial ideas and test public reaction in advance of official announcements, says the change could be made "under a proposed federal rule." Draft legislation is reported to have been prepared by Health Canada,

Health professionals generally favour the idea because it would mean "better service for patients" and "less strain on the overworked physicians," the paper says.

However, drug abuse experts argue that the change would further loosen the "already inadequate" control over opiates in Canada and "shift more pills into the burgeoning black market."

Controlled substances are drugs that have a higher-than-normal potential for abuse and addiction. Along with opiates, they include anti-anxiety medicines such as Lorazepam.

Abuse of prescription drugs has been spreading in Canada, partly because there is no national system to monitor distribution. Patients can acquire multiple prescriptions by visiting more than one doctor at a time.

While health professionals are regulated provincially, and the provinces would have to approve the change, Ottawa would first have to extend the prescribing authority. NUPGE