The unauthorised possession of benzodiazepines is to become an offence under new regulations proposed by the Home Office. The import and export of 33 benzodiazepines and eight other substances would also be controlled. The proposed Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2000 would create a new two-part Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985.
Part I would contain the benzodiazepines and other substances. Part II would contain 54 anabolic substances currently covered by Part I of the existing Regulations. The substances listed in the new Part I would not be exempted from the prohibition on their possession, other than by prescription or as part of an authorised business. In addition, import and/or export licences would be needed for each consignment of the substances, other than for patients travelling abroad for no more than one month. Currently 685 manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers have licences to trade in these drugs. However, the drugs would remain exempt from the safe custody requirements of the regulations.
The Home Office's action on drugs unit started a six-week consultation period on the proposals on August 15. The unit said in a covering letter that the changes would bring the United Kingdom into line with the 1971 United Nations convention on the international trade in psychotropic drugs.
Controlled drugsBenzodiazepines Alprazolam, bromazepam, brotizolam, camazepam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, clorazepic acid, clotiazepam, cloxazolam, delorazepam, diazepam, estazolam, ethyl loflazepate, fludiazepam, flurazepam, halazepam, haloxazolam, ketazolam, loprazolam, lorazepam, lormetazepam, medazepam, midazolam, nimetazepam, nitrazepam, nordazepam, oxazepam, oxazolam, pinazepam, prazepam, tetrazepam, triazolam. Other substances Aminorex, N-ethylamphetamine, fencamfamin, fenproporex, mefenorex, mesocarb, pemoline, pyrovalerone. |