New PSA vaping guidelines

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has released new guidelines and educa on to support Australian pharmacists through the transi on of liquid nico ne for vaping to a prescription‐only substance.

The rescheduling became effec ve last Fri 01 Oct, with PSA Manager, Prac ce Support Claire Antrobus no ng that “when nico ne vaping products are prescribed under the Authorised Prescriber Scheme or the Special Access Scheme they can be dispensed through local pharmacies”.

“As a result of these legisla ve changes, we are likely to see pa ents presen ng to pharmacies, to access nico ne vaping products via prescription,” she said.

The guidelines have been developed alongside the TGA, Quit Victoria, the RACGP, the Pharmacy Guild, the Royal Australian and NZ College of Psychiatrists and the Na onal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

“These guidelines outline the pharmacist’s role in providing smoking cessa on support and key requirements for dispensing nicotine vaping products, including counselling and safety considera ons,” Antrobus said.

Currently there are no nico ne vaping products registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, so access to the unapproved items must come via the Special Access Scheme, Authorised Prescriber Scheme or Personal Importation Scheme pathways.

Two PSA educa on modules to support pharmacists are now available in collabora on with Quit Victoria at my.psa.org.au, while the full Guidelines for Pharmacists Providing Smoking Cessation Support can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

The Royal Australian College of General Prac oners has also updated its Stop Smoking Guidelines to support the transi on - see racgp.org.au.