With regulations of Ontario’s controlled substances database passing last week, the province is set to be able to keep track of narcotics prescription as early as this fall.
Under the Ontario Narcotics Strategy, the government will monitor narcotics prescriptions in a provincial database in an effort to change the way drugs containing narcotics are dispensed.
The database will maintain personal health information and track any unusually high prescription patterns to prevent addiction, death, and improper use of opioids.
Opioids, more commonly known as prescription narcotics, are used to temporarily relieve bodily aches for some hours. Though narcotics can be effective in controlling severe pain, as with most drugs, an overdose can lead to fatality.
According to the Ontario ministry of health, the province is among the highest consumers of prescription drugs containing narcotics in the world.
The ministry says rising misuse of narcotics, increased deaths from opioid abuse, and lack of prescribing guidelines are among the reasons the narcotics database was developed.
In addition to the database, a Narcotics Advisory Panel consisting of experts in medicine, pharmacy, community health, and law enforcement will assist the ministry in public awareness programs to educate about safe narcotic use as well as treatment for those addicted to these controlled substances.
The Ontario government has yet to announce a date to launch the public education programs.
Under the Ontario Narcotics Strategy, the government will monitor narcotics prescriptions in a provincial database in an effort to change the way drugs containing narcotics are dispensed.
The database will maintain personal health information and track any unusually high prescription patterns to prevent addiction, death, and improper use of opioids.
Opioids, more commonly known as prescription narcotics, are used to temporarily relieve bodily aches for some hours. Though narcotics can be effective in controlling severe pain, as with most drugs, an overdose can lead to fatality.
According to the Ontario ministry of health, the province is among the highest consumers of prescription drugs containing narcotics in the world.
The ministry says rising misuse of narcotics, increased deaths from opioid abuse, and lack of prescribing guidelines are among the reasons the narcotics database was developed.
In addition to the database, a Narcotics Advisory Panel consisting of experts in medicine, pharmacy, community health, and law enforcement will assist the ministry in public awareness programs to educate about safe narcotic use as well as treatment for those addicted to these controlled substances.
The Ontario government has yet to announce a date to launch the public education programs.
