Project STOP is a decision making tool for pharmacists aimed at preventing the use of pseudoephedrine based products to manufacture methamphetamine.
The system works by helping pharmacists to determine patients’ therapeutic needs.
Project STOP is an online tool which provides decision support to pharmacists to determine patients' therapeutic needs.
It also assists pharmacists in meeting their state regulatory recording requirements where they exist. Project STOP is endorsed by the Pharmacy Board of Australia and all pseudoephedrine sales should be entered into Project STOP.
Project STOP is an initiative of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Australian Government to address the problem of precursor diversion through Australian Community Pharmacies.
The most common precursor sourced through the community pharmacy channel is Pseudoephedrine which can be used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamines.
Forms of photographic identification that are acceptable for the purposes of Project STOP include:
Use of an Australian Government issued form of identification (such as an Australian passport or Medicare card) is expressly forbidden by the Privacy Act (under National Privacy Principle 7).
In some states and territories, it is a legal requirement for pharmacists to record the customer's name and address when supplying pseudoephedrine. The pharmacist will only request this extra information if required by law.
Project STOP operates in the following way:
Project STOP is an online tool which provides support to pharmacists to assist them to determine a patients' therapeutic needs.
Project STOP requires photographic identification is supplied when a pseudoephedrine-based product is requested.
(1) National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019 - AIHW
Methamphetamine, including Methamphetamine, including the highly pure form known as 'Ice', is Australia's most serious drug problem. The late 1990's saw a marked increase in the popularity of this drug. In 2019, it was estimated that there were approximately 300,000 dependent users(1)
A precursor is a key ingredient. Pseudoephedrine which is the active ingredient in many common cough and cold treatments is a vital precursor in the manufacture of illicit methamphetamines. Unlike many of the other materials required to make methamphetamines, there is no substitute for Pseudoephedrine.
In this context precursor diversion is where people systematically purchase medicines containing Pseudoephedrine not for legitimate health reasons but for the purpose of manufacturing illicit methamphetamines.
In Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Northern Territory, if you request a Pseudoephedrine based product a pharmacist must request a Government approved form of identification from you if you are unknown to them.
Quality Use of Medicines guidelines require pharmacists to determine the therapeutic needs of a customer before supplying pseudoephedrine based products. These guidelines ensure customers are getting the most suitable product for their condition.
The information can vary from state to state based on the requirements of the various regulations that pharmacists operate under.
In general the database may contain information on:
The information held in Project STOP is stored securely and access to it is strictly controlled and monitored. If the identification number was previously entered into the database within the project’s threshold period, Project STOP presents the following information to the pharmacist about the previous sales in that period: the product and quantity sold, and the location and date of each sale.
The data is held for a period of 2 years at which time all identifying information is removed and only the product and pharmacy information is retained.
The customer has several options:
name and address
The identification number used in the transaction in question
The pharmacy visited
The date and approximate time of the visit
The nature of the issue
We will endeavour to respond to all requests promptly.
In the first instance they need to contact us and we will attempt to resolve the issue. If our response is unsatisfactory or they would prefer not to speak to us, they can make contact with the appropriate privacy organisation in their state. A list of these can be found under Privacy in the main menu of this website.
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NSW
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Documents/criteria-record-pseudo.pdf
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Documents/guide-supplyS3.pdf
ACT
https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/sl/2008-42/current/pdf/2008-42.pdf
QLD
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/2017-10-01/sl-1996-0414
SA
WA
https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pseudoephedrine
NT
https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/SubordinateLegislation/PDF?id=3971
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Level 6, 20 Bond Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box A284 Sydney South NSW 1235
f: +61 2 8222 4499
Level 6, 20 Bond Street, Sydney NSW 2000 | PO Box A284 Sydney South NSW 1235
f: +61 2 8222 4499
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