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Topic: Project STOP

There are changes happening to the way you purchase medicines containing pseudoephedrine such as cough, cold and allergy tablets. It is likely you will be asked some questions by the pharmacist and will be asked to show identification.

This is because it is the responsibility of pharmacy staff to ensure pseudoephedrine-based medicines are purchased for legitimate use, and not by “pseudo-runners” who travel between pharmacies buying these products to make illegal drugs such as speed or ice.

Pharmacies are addressing the seriousness of pseudoephedrine diversion through a program called Project STOP.

Project STOP is an online recording system developed by The Pharmacy Guild of Australia. It records the details of people purchasing pseudoephedrine-based medicines with their consent, and alerts police when a person has attempted to purchase such products from a number of different pharmacies in a given period of time.

The Federal Attorney General’s Department has provided funding for the national rollout of Project STOP under the National Strategy to Prevent the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals into Illicit Drug Manufacture. This will enable the program to be implemented in all community pharmacies in accordance with respective state and territory legislation.

Project STOP is helping to prevent criminal activity and keep these medicines available for people who genuinely need them. Pharmacists do not want the medicines they supply to end up in the wrong hands.

Please support your pharmacy staff in this important task. Get to know your pharmacist and help us stop illegal drugs hurting Australians.

For more information on Project STOP, ask your pharmacist.

Web: www.projectstop.com.au