NEWS: Legal 'heroin' sold to addicts

[poledriver]

In the US the media termed the name of "hillbilly heroin" for OxyContin about 10+ years ago, becasue it was supposedly the "poor mans heroin/opiate

Yep heard the term used a fair bit here over the years, of course it has come from America. Check the movie bristol boys if you aint seen it before. Worth a watch.
Some oxy use and abuse in it and alot of pot.

 

[hydrochron]

How about "Richey riches heroin"

 

[ooh.shiny]

When I had mine out I got given panadeine fort (30mg codeine, 500mg paracetemol). i had to supplement with neurofen plus and some weed in order to get adequate pain relief.

I haven't even read the rest of the thread yet, but I couldn't go past this. When I got four wisdom teeth out, I got sent home with regular panadol and regular nurofen, which I could have bought in a supermarket.

Because getting wisdom teeth out is really akin to a slight headache, after all. Worst week of my life. I wasn't even physically able to get to a doctor to ask for painkillers.

 

[Christ!]

I haven't even read the rest of the thread yet, but I couldn't go past this. When I got four wisdom teeth out, I got sent home with regular panadol and regular nurofen, which I could have bought in a supermarket.

Because getting wisdom teeth out is really akin to a slight headache, after all. Worst week of my life. I wasn't even physically able to get to a doctor to ask for painkillers.

That's poor care IMO

Sometimes doctors being stingy with pain relief might prevent someone going back for other problems. Opiodaphobia I call it.

One of the worst things about being on buprenorphine maintainance is the fear of not being able to get proper pain relief if I need it. Spose it'd be similar for anyone tolerant to opiates. I've got a pretty nasty abscess at the moment and I couldn't see my regular doctor. Saw the local GP and I didn't even tell her I was maintainance because of the fear she wouldn't give me proper pain relief if I needed it. I should have told her...will probably mention it when I go back on Sunday and then see my regular doc after that.

Plus some doctors would hear 'opiate addict' see an abscess and assume there's a link...I don't inject, have a good diet and keep good hygiene so I doubt they'd be related.

 

[wazza]

^^ Regarding "poor care", what are dentists actually allowed to give to patients (in way of pain killers) besides panadol + nurofen? Can they have stronger pain meds and do they have to be OTC or do dentists have some prescription benefits?

Or was the OP talking about that a GP sent them home with panadol + nurofen?

 

[Divine Moments]

^ I was given prescription panadeine forte (30mg codeine) when I had my wisdom teeth done. I imagine in some circumstances they can prescribe greater analgesia too, but I'm not really sure.

 

[Christ!]

I always thought they could prescribe anything so long as it had to do with mouth/teeth problems (dentistry?)

Just from a quick search and scan -

Controlled (Schedule 8) drugs [section 56]

Dentists are authorised, so far as is necessary to practise dentistry, to-
(a) obtain the following controlled drugs, possess them at the place where they practise
dentistry, and administer them to a person while treating that person:
(i) codeine
(ii) morphine
(iii) oxycodone
(iv) papaveretum
(v) pentazocine
(vi) pethidine

(b) prescribe no more than three days’ supply of codeine or pentazocine for a person's
dental treatment; and

(c) give to someone who is authorised to administer a controlled drug (eg. a
nurse), an oral or written instruction to administer codeine, morphine,
oxycodone, papaveretum, pentazocine or pethidine at the place where
the dentist practices dentistry.
Dentists are not permitted to supply controlled drugs to their patients. If
patients require medication following treatment, the dentist can write a
prescription for those drugs specified above, which can then be dispensed
by a pharmacist.

Controlled Drug = S8

Hrm, could have sworn they could prescribe stronger stuff, but seems they can only treat with S8's while you're at the clinic. Max 3 day supply of codeine doesn't sound right either.

This is from the
What Dentists
Need to Know Handbook, by the QLD government. Maybe it's different in other states? Or maybe they can prescribe stronger stuff for longer if they have special authority? Not really sure, I could just be wrong (probably)

 

[Divine Moments]

Max 3 day supply of codeine doesn't sound right either.

Most co-codamol (codeine + paracetamol) preparations are schedule 4, codeine's only schedule 8 as a sole active ingredient. I also thought they could prescribe more.. I'm sure there's people around here who know, maybe Busty?

 

[Mr Blonde]

From the PBS website:

Prescribing of drugs of addiction by dentists is not permitted in some States/Territories.

And this, from NSW Health's 'Guide to Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Legislation for Medical Practitioners and Dentists:

C4. Prescriptions. A prescription for the supply of a drug of addiction may be
issued:-
(i) by a medical practitioner only for use in the course of medical
treatment; or
(ii) by a dentist for use in the course of dental treatment for a period not
exceeding one month’s continuous treatment of a patient -
(a) in a hospital, with any drug of addiction; or
(b) not in a hospital, with only pentazocine or any drug of addiction
appearing at that time on the list of preparations on the current
Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits which may be prescribed by
dentists.

The PBS lists these opioids under dental items: oxycodone, hydromorphone, tramadol, morphine, and codeine phosphate with paracetamol.

Dentists cannot write authority scripts either, and the states and territories will have their own legislation on what and how dentists prescribe.