Supervised Consumption

When a patient is prescribed medication, whether it’s by their GP or a pharmacist, a duty of care is then placed on the prescriber and it becomes their responsibility to ensure the safety of their patients when taking high-risk medication.

One of the biggest public health issues is drug misuse and this relates to prescribed medication, as well as street drugs. As such, supervised consumption can be provided for all those who need it to help ensure their safety and reduce the risk of potential harm.

Here at Newdays Pharmacy, our team of pharmacists work closely with individuals who do have a drug dependency via our supervised consumption service. We dispense substitute drugs (such as suboxone, buprenorphine and methadone) to ensure people are able to detox and withdraw gradually from their dependency in a safe and supportive environment.

The overall aim of pharmacy services for those with drug dependencies is to help them remain healthy while reducing drug-related harm and providing them with regular contact with healthcare professionals, as well as helping them access further advice or support.

Pharmacists are also well placed to reduce the risk to local communities in relation to overuse or underuse of medication, as well as accidental exposure to dispensed medicines and the diversion of prescribed medication to the illicit drugs market.

Supervised consumption services can also be beneficial for those patients in receipt of high-risk medications on prescription but who don’t have a dependency issue. 

In this instance, we will provide you with all the support and advice you need to ensure that you continue to take your medication as prescribed. We can also refer you onto a specialist care provider or your GP if you feel that you need further support.