As part of the government of Canada’s response to the opioid crisis, effective May 19, 2018, federal regulatory amendments to the Narcotic Control Regulations will remove the requirement for prescribers to obtain a section 56 exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to prescribe or administer methadone for opioid use disorder or analgesia.
Pharmacists will no longer need to verify if a practitioner holds a valid exemption to prescribe methadone. Otherwise, expectations of practice for pharmacy professionals are unchanged in the new regulations.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Nurses of Ontario have communicated information about these regulatory amendments to their respective members.
Pharmacy professional are encouraged to review the updated Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) and Dispensing Policy in the Methadone and Buprenorphine Practice Tool.