For Medical Practitioners

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Schedule 8 Substances

The Schedule 8 and Restricted Schedule 4 Clinical Practice Guidelines 2nd edition published in the government Gazette on 30 April 2008. The prescribing and supply of Schedule 8 substances must conform with these Guidelines as required under section 31X of the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act.

Document TitleDocument Description
S8 and Restricted S4 Substances Policy and Clinical Practice Guidelines
Exemptions to S8 Guidelines January 2009 (Adobe PDF document - 305KB)Exemptions

Introduction Information

Document TitlePublished
Welcome Letter (Adobe PDF document - 38KB)Dec 2008
Contract Letter (Adobe PDF document - 30KB)Dec 2008
General S8 Contract (Adobe PDF document - 32KB)Sept 2008

Fact Sheets

Document TitlePublishedNo.
Information for Patients on Schedule 8 MedicationMay 2009301
Supplying IsotretinoinMay 2009302
Storage and Disposal of Schedule 8 SubstancesMay 2009303
The Schedule 8 and Restricted Schedule 4 Substance Clinical Advisory Committee (CLAC)May 2009304
Summary of Requirements for Medical Practitioner (Adobe PDF document - 51KB)May 2009305
Self-Prescription and Self-Administration of Schedule 8 and Restricted Schedule 4 SubstancesMay 2009306
Requirements of Prescriptions for Schedule 8 Substances (Adobe PDF document - 53KB)Sept 2008.
Changing from restricted S8 medication for opiate addiction to non-restricted S8 opiate
medication for pain
May 2006.
Chronic Pain ManagementClinical flowchart.
S8 Practitioners Quick Guide - 21 April 2009 (Adobe PDF document - 497KB)April 2009.

Forms for Medical Practioners

Document TitleDocument Description
General S8 (Adobe PDF document - 32KB)Patient Contract Form
Opioid Medication (Adobe PDF document - 31KB)Patient Contract Form
Notification of Supply of a Non-Restricted S8 Substance (Adobe PDF document - 30KB)Notification Form
Restricted S8 Psychostimulant Medication (Adobe PDF document - 28KB)Application for the Authority to Prescribe
Restricted S8 Substance for the Treatment of Addiction (Adobe PDF document - 27KB)Application for the Authority to Prescribe
CLAC Guideline: Variation to Pharmacotherapy Takeaway - Suboxone Weekly (Adobe PDF document - 71KB)Application
CLAC Guideline: Variation to Pharmacotherapy Takeaway - Suboxone Travel (Adobe PDF document - 72KB)Application
Drug Loss Report Form (Adobe PDF document - 29KB)Report Form

Storage and Transport

Businesses, organisations and health professionals producing/supplying Schedule 8 (Controlled Drugs) need to comply with the following Code of Practice.

Document TitleDocument Description
Storage and Transportation of Scheduled SubstancesCode of Practice

Poisons Control S8 Website

The Poisons Control S8 Website enables Medical Practitioners to access the weekly updated Contract List. The list combines both Top End and Alice Springs contracts and details the patients, contracting doctors and pharmacies.

If any of these patients presents at your surgery seeking narcotics or benzodiazepines (flunitrazepam, temazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, clonazepam etc), you are strongly advised to refer them back to their contracted prescriber to ensure they receive complete medication management.

Please notify Poisons Control if there are any changes that need to be made to the contract list. We rely on general practitioners and community pharmacists for the accuracy of the contract list.

Access the Poisons Control S8 Website