The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7432 p762
23/30 December 2006

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News summary

Regulators' review of substance misuse services published

Improvements can be made across all areas of community prescribing services for substance misusers, according to a review by the Healthcare Commission and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.

The Journal reported some of the review’s preliminary findings earlier this year (PJ, 16 September, p327) — methadone prescribing was highlighted as an area where improvements are needed.

The full report, published this week, says: “Pharmacists, particularly those undertaking daily dispensing, are often among those professionals most frequently in contact with service users. They therefore offer a potential source of information to service providers, including how to ensure services can be most effective.”