Prescription statistics

Pharmacy Practice Division (PPD) supports the NHS in Scotland through the provision of professional information and advice on pharmaceuticals and their use to all sectors of the health service, using data derived from the processing for payment of prescriptions from community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers.

Methadone mixture is prescribed mainly as an adjunct in the treatment of opioid withdrawal.It can also be prescribed as a linctus to control distressful cough in terminal illness, as tablets and injections to control severe pain, particularly in terminal illness.

Temazepam and diazepam are prescribed to sedate, induce sleep and relieve severe anxiety. Buprenorphine and dihydrocodeine are used in the relief of moderate severe pain.

Defined daily doses used in the production of these data are based on the World Health Organisations’s definitions : Methadone mixture 25mg ; Dihydrocodeine 120mg ; Buprenorphine 1.2mg ; Diazepam 10mg ; Temazepam 20mg.

Table 39 Prescriptions & defined daily doses per 1000 population :
year ending 31 March 1998

Table 40 Prescriptions & defined daily doses per 1000 population :
years ending 31 March

Table 41 Methadone mixture prescriptions : years ending 31 March

Table 42 Seizures of controlled drugs: 1985, 1990 - 1996