The government intends to crack down on pharmacies that have “a disproportionate business” in control substance prescriptions, Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands said.
The United Nations World Drug Report 2019, which was released last month, said synthetic opioids pose a “serious threat to health” globally, noting that overdose deaths have risen in North America and the trafficking of fentanyl has expanded worldwide.
Sands said The Bahamas has not seen a problem with opioids that’s “anywhere near as serious” as what’s occurring in the United States.
However, he told The Nassau Guardian, “Our problem has been the availability of opioids for cancer care, for pain relief, et cetera, typically when we move toward the end of the clinical year. Whether that is due to visitors accessing our consignment of opioids when they come to visit, or whether there’s misappropriation or inappropriate prescribing patterns.” Read more >>