CPhA Disappointed by Health Canada Decision on Tamper-Resistant Regulations

April 5, 2016 (Ottawa): The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is disappointed by Health Canada’s announcement yesterday to not move forward on regulations that would have required all controlled release oxycodone products to have tamper-resistant properties before they could be sold in Canada.

“CPhA has long been an advocate for a multi-pronged approach to addressing prescription drug abuse, including regulations to mandate tamper-resistant properties,” said Phil Emberley, Director of Professional Affairs, Canadian Pharmacists Association. “CPhA saw such regulations as a positive move to create a level-playing field for all long-lasting opiates and to address the potential risks of opioid misuse.”

In August 2014, CPhA submitted a series of recommendations to Health Canada calling for all opioids and stimulants to include tamper-resistant properties, coupled with improved assessment tools and prescribing guidelines, enhanced surveillance, increased patient education and public awareness on the potential negative health risks of prescription opioids.

There has been a consistent and problematic trend of extended release oxycodone abuse in Canada, and it is CPhA’s belief that an abuse-deterrent formulation of this medication would mitigate this growing problem.  Data from the US, as well as preliminary data from Canada since the introduction of abuse-deterrent extended release oxycodone, suggests that this strategy has merit.  Extended release oxycodone is inherently highly potent, and poses significant health risks if it is abused through tampering.  The policy that Health Canada has chosen runs counter to that of the US Food and Drug Administration in its effort to combat opiate abuse and misuse.

“We are very concerned that Canadians continue to suffer from the inherent risks of these medications, as a result of their purposeful misuse and abuse,” added Emberley. “While the regulated implementation of abuse deterrent opiate formulations is not the single remedy to mitigate opiate abuse, this strategy, together with others we have identified are important to address the opiate crisis in Canada.”

One unfortunate development in recent years is that the target of prescription drug abusers has shifted to other opioids, most notably fentanyl and hydromorphone, with tragic consequences. It is for this reason that CPhA encourages Health Canada to implement a tamper-resistant regulation for all targeted medications, not only oxycodone.

While disappointed in yesterday’s announcement, CPhA is committed to collaborating with Health Canada to continue to address prescription drug abuse and ensure medication safety, ensuring that pharmacists are fully utilized as highly accessible, trusted and professional health care providers. We encourage Health Canada to measure the impacts of their initiatives as part of a larger, comprehensive strategy to combat prescription drug abuse.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Mark McCondach
Director of Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 Ext. 285