Prescribing amphetamines to drug misusers: data from the 1995 national survey of community pharmacies in England and Wales

Abstract

Results from the 1995 survey of community pharmacy services for drug misusers provide data on 177 amphetamine prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists; this extrapolates to an estimated 900-1000 patients receiving amphetamine for the treatment of addiction in England and Wales, at any one time. Seventy-three per cent and 24% of prescriptions were for dexamphetamine tablets and oral liquid, respectively, and 3% for injectables amphetamines. Fifty-seven per cent of prescriptions were from doctors working in hospital/clinics and 92% in NHS practice. Hospital/clinic-based prescribers tended to prescribe lower daily doses and were more likely to instruct daily pickups than general practitioners, as did those in NHS compared with private practice. Major regional variations were noted in the overall distribution of prescriptions and for the different dosage forms. In conclusion, we find that there is a disturbing lack of consistency nationally and a lack of safeguards against diversion into the black market.