Diversion and Illicit Supply of Medicines report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

The Faculty of Pain Medicine welcomes the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on Diversion and Illicit Supply of Medicines. The report, contributed to by the Faculty through consultation in 2014, includes reference to the Faculty and PHE online resource Opioids Aware:

 “The Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists has reviewed the use of prescribing of opioids in great detail. A comprehensive guideline for prescribers went live on the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists website in Dec 2015.10”

Stakeholders suggest that clinicians can improve practice by:

• closer monitoring of commonly abused prescription drugs;
• implementing regular medication reviews; and
• developing guidelines on what action to take if diversion is suspected.