Pharmacy Guild of Australia
1. In your submission you note that 94% of pharmacies in the NT are usingProject STOP.
a. How many pharmacies does this equate to ?
There are currently 35 pharmacies in the NT. 33 pharmacies are using Project
STOP.
b. Do you have any information regarding the reasons why the remaining
pharmacies are not using Project STOP?
There are 2 pharmacies that are not using Project STOP. Both these pharmacies
are not members of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and as such are required to
pay an annual fee of $300 to use the Guild developed and owned Project STOP
software. (There are only 3 pharmacies in the NT who are not members of the
Pharmacy Guild) The cost may have contributed to their decision not to use
Project STOP.
It also takes a considerable amount of time to process a purchase through
Project STOP - up to 5 minutes to enter all the details on the drivers license (full
name, DOB, address, full name and quantity of product). It is much quicker to
hand-write details on a register or photocopy a drivers license. While ever
Project STOP is not mandatory busy pharmacy staff will choose quicker
alternatives.
Their decision may also have been impacted by the low quantity of
pseudoephedrine containing products that they sell.
c. How is Project STOP currently funded?
Project STOP was developed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and its
maintenance is now managed by the Pharmacy Guild's IT company GuildLink.
As such, the maintenance of the Project STOP tool is funded entirely by
GuildLink (nationally the cost to maintain the platform is approximately $400k per
annum), with the exception of pharmacies who are not members of the Pharmacy
Guild and are charged an annual fee of $300 to use Project STOP. This only
partially covers the cost to maintain the platform (25-30% of the overall cost only).
In every state and territory in Australia the police have real-time online access to
the Project STOP database. Project STOP sends alerts to the police by email
and even by SMS if there is evidence of 'pseudo-runners' moving between
pharmacies in a particular area or if particular suspects purchase
pseudoephedrine products. The information and notification service provided by
Project STOP is currently provided at no cost to the police.
Due to the lack of support funding Project STOP is currently only being
maintained - not improved or developed further.
2. The Committee understands that Project STOP has been operating since2007.
a. What evidence is there to suggest that Project STOP is an effective means of
limiting access to precursors for illicit purposes?
We have received anecdotal advice from the police that information provided to
them through Project STOP has led to a number of arrests and busts on back
yard drug labs. They have also advised anecdotally that the amount of illicit
methamphetamines being manufactured has reduced whilst the quantity of
finished product being imported from interstate or overseas has increased to
compensate. Police have also advised that the intelligence they are able to
collect through Project STOP is extremely valuable and has enabled them to map
and track criminal networks.
The police would be able to provide more information in relation to this question.
Pharmacies have advised us in the past that the number of people using
Evidence of Age cards to purchase pseudoephedrine had substantially
increased. At this time (the peak was in 2013) the police were not able to track
the users of these cards since the card does not contain an address and was
linked into a different electronic system. We discussed this with the police at the
time who felt that it was the effectiveness of Project STOP that had encouraged
this new practice. Please see our member eBulletin article below from December
2013 detailing this issue:
A number of members have reported an increasing number of adults using NT Evidence of Age (18plus) cards rather than a Driver's License when purchasing pseudoephedrine containingproducts. Often these adults are well over 18 i.e. cJoser to 40 years old. It js more difficult forpolice to frack the users of tt0ver 18 cards" as the card does not contain an address.
Pharmacies are advised that NT Police, Poisons Control and the Pharmacy Guild are aware of thesetrends and working towards a solution. In the meantime pharmacy staff could consider (a) asking foranother form of photo ID; or (2) asking for proof of address from another form of identification orfrom mail.
There also continue to be instances of runners obtaining prescriptions for pseudoephednne containingproducts. It Is appropriate to record the supply on a prescription in Project STOP as well as yourdispensing database if you are concerned, that way you can be assured that the police are receivingall the information.
If you are concerned that one of your customers may be diverting pseudoephedrine for Hlldt use andthat they might be using an Evidence of Age Card or false identification to escape detection thenplease contact the NT Police Drug and Organised Crime Squad.
Please email [email protected] and someone from the Drug Diversion Unit will respond toyour enquiry. Any information received wilt be treated as confidential. If you would prefer to speakdirectly to someone from the Drug Diversion Desk please cat! 8922 3169. Please remember this doesnot replace the normal channels of communication, If the issue being reported requires urgent policeattention please continue to call 131 444 or 000.
Please dlstrfbute this information to aff of your staff to ensure a ff are aware of theprocess.
b. How does mandating real time online recording of pseudoephedrine sales impacton the effectiveness of Project STOP?
The real value of Project STOP is in the data it contains on sales of
pseudoephedrine. The police do NOT see hand written records of
pseudoephdrine sales unless they enter a pharmacy and ask to see it. Whilst
ever it is not mandatory there will be data missing that may be useful to the police
and law enforcement. Whilst ever it is not mandatory to use this tool, busy
pharmacy staff will at times use alternate, faster, paper-based recording. This
occurs even in pharmacies who have access to Project STOP when there is a
sudden influx of customers or on a really busy day. Often the hand-written record
may not be entered into Project STOP even when there is time as it is not
mandatory therefore not a priority.
c. Has there been any increase in the percentage of sales that have been denied or
recorded as safety sales since the program was first implemented?
Some recent data regarding the number of sales (including the number of safety
sales and denied sales) is provided in the powerpoint attachment.
3. Research indicates that pharmacists are often the first port of call formany drug users who may otherwise not seek general or specialist healthor treatment services.
a. What training is available to pharmacists and support staff on the properties and
effects of ice?
Pharmacists are trained to understand the effects of amphetamines (both
therapeutic and illicit) and regularly deal with drug addiction, treatment for drug
addictions as well as drug seeking behaviour. However, there is no specific
training available to pharmacists or pharmacy staff on the properties and effects
of ice at this time.
b. Is health information on ice readily available from pharmacies?
Currently there is no standardised information regarding Ice available from
pharmacies.
c. How could the promotion of information and available services be improved?
Pharmacies are well placed to provide fact sheets, printed information and
referral information for families and carers of people affected by Ice. This
information could include local and interstate treatment services, respite care
options for carers and family, emergency management of psychotic episodes.
PROJECT STOP TM
The PharmacyGuild of Australia
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*!rIV
ProjectSTOP Current Registrations
State
ACTNSW
NT
QLDSA
TAS
vie
WA
Total
Registered) Pharmacies in State]
68
1105
33
1028
409
134
988
553
4318]
75
1899
35
1160
478
152
1327
604
>730!
90.67%
58.19%
94.29%
88.62%
85.56%
88.16%
74.45%
91.56%
75.360/a
PROJECTf 1STOP The PharmacyGuild of Australia
ProjectSTOP Sales Breakdown by State(1/9/2014 to 1/9/2015)
State
NT
SA
vie
WA
ACTNSW
QLD
TAS
Supplied I Denied) Safety! Unknown | Total
24858
75174
534672
449874
68053
610646
488637
69844
321758
188
445
5151
1506
139
1765
6791
309
16294
270
479
3058
5523
311
2101
6907
136
18785
323
1356
10346
5213
759
7785
9526
1022
36330
25639
77454
553227
462116
69262
622297
511861
71311
239316^
PROJECTflSTOP The PharmacyGuild of Australia
ProjectSTOP YTD Monthly Transactions
[Month Period | Unique)
2015-1
2015-2
2015-3
2015-4
2015-5
2015-6
2015-7
2015-8
2015-9
PROIECT(
Pharmaciesl
3727
3771
3833
3864
3921
3919
3948
3950
3212
ISTOP
Transactions I
110206
116202
166009
195947
251598
264180
296827
311998
23193
• The PharmacyGuild of Australia
ProjectSTOP Registrations - NT
State
NT
Total
Registered]
33
Pharmacies in State!
35 94.29%
94.29°/o!
PROJECTflSTOP The PharmacyGuild of Australia
TOP Transactions by Day - NT(1/8/2015 to 3/9/2015)
Transactions
PROJECTf 1STOP
01/08/201502/08/201503/08/201504/08/201505/08/201506/08/201507/08/201508/08/201509/08/201510/08/201511/08/201512/08/201513/08/201514/08/201515/08/201516/08/201517/08/201518/08/201519/08/201520/08/2015
21/08/201522/08/201523/08/201524/08/201525/08/201526/08/201527/08/201528/08/201529/08/201530/08/201531/08/201501/09/201502/09/201503/09/2015
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NT
NT
61
58
55
Ill
98
Ill
120
105
97
85
97
8380
80
92
95
104
108
110
90
93
9580
114
78
101
108
75
77
6189
104
90
27
3032
The PharmacyGuild of Australia