Prescribers should report any patient who has acquired, as a result of repeated administration of monitored medicine (drugs of addiction) or Schedule 9 poisons, an overpowering desire for the continued administration of a drug of addiction or a Schedule 9 poison.
Reports of drug dependence must be made on the Reporting a Drug Dependent Person form (Word 844KB).
More information on the criteria for drug dependence may be found in the Guidance note: Reporting drug dependent and oversupplied persons (Word 385KB). A patient information leaflet (Word 385KB) has been developed to explain the reporting process and consequences of a report of drug dependence and inclusion on the drugs of addiction record.
On receiving a report, the Chief Executive Officer may decide to include the name of the person on the drugs of addiction record as a Drug Dependent person. Information regarding the drugs of addiction record will only be made available to authorised health professionals, as necessary for the treatment of a patient under their care.
Prior written authorisation from the CEO is required before prescribing Schedule 8 medicines for a person who has is recorded as a Drug Dependent Person. When prescribing a Schedule 4 monitored medicine for a person recorded as a Drug Dependent Person, the prescriber must document a plan to mitigate potential harms in the patient’s medical record. The treatment must be medically indicated and not for the treatment of addiction.
A record of drug dependency may be removed from the drugs of addiction record, if the record is not accurate or up to date. If the person has no direct or indirect contact with the Department, in relation to their use of drugs of addiction, for a period of 5 years, their name will be automatically removed from the record.
If a prescriber has been the primary care provider for a person for 2 years or more and the prescriber believes the person no longer has an overpowering desire to continue the use of monitored medicines (drugs of addiction) or schedule 9 poisons, the person’s medical practitioner can apply to the Department of Health for removal, on behalf of the person. Supporting evidence will be required and medical practitioners should contact the Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch for guidance. Alternatively, a person can apply for removal themselves. Information for people who wish to make their own application is available on the HealthyWA website.