Prescribing drugs of dependence
An overview of what you need to know about drugs of dependence, what they are and why and how they are regulated in South Australia
Prescriptions for schedule 4 medicines (such as blood pressure medications or cholesterol lowering tablets) written by prescribers in another state or territory can be dispensed in South Australia. Similarly, prescriptions for schedule 4 medicines written in South Australia can be dispensed in another state or territory.
Prescriptions for schedule 8 medicines written by prescribers in another state or territory can be dispensed in South Australia provided the pharmacist dispensing the prescription:
Prescriptions for schedule 8 medicines written in South Australia may not be valid in another state or territory. The relevant state or territory authority should be contacted for further information. Please refer below for a list of contact details for each state/territory.
Note: this also applies to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) prescriptions.
ACT Health, Pharmaceutical Services
Phone: (02) 5124 9208
Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Services
Phone: (02) 9391 9944
Department of Health (NT), Medicines and Poisons
Phone: (08) 8922 7341
Queensland Health, Healthcare Approvals and Regulation Unit
Phone: (07) 3708 5264
Department of Health and Human Services, Pharmaceutical Services Branch
Phone: (03) 6166 0400
Department of Health (Victoria), Medicines and Poisons Regulation
Phone: 1300 364 545
Department of Health (WA), Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Phone: (08) 9222 6883
1 Regulation 35A(4)(a) of the Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulation 2011