Category: Controlled drugs

Under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, a Controlled Drugs register must be maintained for all Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 Controlled Drugs (CDs) received or supplied by a pharmacy.

While the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 require a Controlled Drugs register for all Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 CDs, there are also strong best practice recommendations for maintaining CD register records for certain Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 (Part 1) drugs in specific settings. This is especially important where the risk of diversion or misuse is higher, or where robust audit trails are required.

While not a legal requirement, recording these substances in the CD register contributes to greater transparency, early discrepancy detection, and improved accountability.

Pharmacies and healthcare organisations in the UK must comply with strict legal and environmental rules when disposing of controlled drugs (CDs). This includes denaturing the drugs before disposal and, in certain cases, arranging for witnessed destruction and record keeping.

According to Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and Home Office guidance, all CDs in the following categories must be denatured (rendered irretrievable) before disposal:

Denaturing must be carried out before placing CDs into pharmaceutical waste containers for incineration. CDs must not be disposed of via the sewerage system (e.g. flushed).

Pharmacies in the UK must follow specific legal and professional standards when supplying Controlled Drugs (CDs), especially those in Schedule 2. This article outlines what is legally required when a patient, representative, or healthcare professional collects a CD, as well as how home deliveries should be managed.

When a Schedule 2 CD is collected, the pharmacist is legally required under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to determine who is collecting the medicine:

Actions must differ depending on who is collecting the medicine.

This guide outlines all legally required prescription elements for UK Controlled Drugs (CDs) across Schedules 1–5. It clearly differentiates between what is legally required and what is considered best practice.

Prescriptions must include the following:

Where a CD is to be supplied in instalments, the prescription must include:

Pharmacy professionals must follow strict legal requirements when obtaining controlled drugs (CDs) for stock. This article outlines when a mandatory requisition form must be used to obtain Schedule 1, 2, or 3 CDs, and includes guidance on processing, exemptions, and special cases such as midwife supply orders.

From 30 November 2015, it became mandatory under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 for healthcare professionals in the community to use an approved requisition form when requesting Schedule 2 or 3 CDs.

This rule applies to requisitions for both human and veterinary use. It was introduced following the Shipman Inquiry to improve the audit trail and monitoring of controlled drug movement.

Pharmacy professionals in the UK are often asked about the legal requirements around importing and exporting controlled drugs (CDs), both for pharmacy operations and for patients travelling internationally. The rules differ depending on the CD schedule and whether the movement is personal or commercial.

Pharmacies must hold a Home Office Controlled Drugs licence to import or export the following:

For Schedule 4 (Part II) controlled drugs, a Home Office licence is still required unless the drug is being imported or exported by an individual for self-administration.

The administration of Controlled Drugs (CDs) in the UK is strictly regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and other healthcare legislation. Only specific healthcare professionals and authorized individuals can administer CDs, and they must follow legal and professional standards.

Pharmacists can administer certain CDs if:

Key Considerations:

The supply of Controlled Drugs (CDs) in the UK is strictly regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Only authorized individuals and entities can supply CDs, and they must adhere to legal requirements concerning prescriptions, record-keeping, and security.

Pharmacists can legally supply CDs only under certain conditions, including:

Pharmacists must ensure:

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 outline who is legally allowed to possess Controlled Drugs (CDs). Unauthorized possession is an offence unless the individual has legal authority.

Pharmacists and healthcare professionals may legally possess CDs only under specific circumstances, such as:

Key Requirements: