Scheduled Substances Clinical Advisory Committee (CLAC)

The Scheduled Substances Clinical Advisory Committee (CLAC) is a panel of experts who oversee matters relating to Schedule 8 (S8) and restricted Schedule 4 (S4) substances, across the Northern Territory (NT).

S8 substances are also known as controlled drugs, and are categorised as restricted and unrestricted in the NT.

Unrestricted substances include morphine and oxycodone.

Restricted substances are:

• buprenorphine depot Injections (Buvidal® and Sublocade®)
• buprenorphine (Subutex) - 0.4mg, 2mg and 8mg for sublingual administration
• buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) - 2mg/0.5mg, 8mg/2mg in film form for sublingual or buccal administration
• methadone liquid - 5mg/mL for oral administration
• dexamfetamine
• lisdexamfetamine
• methylphenidate.

As at 1 August 2020 no S4 substances have been declared as Restricted..

Role of the committee

The role includes all of the following:

• advise the Chief Health Officer (CHO) about the competency required by medical practitioners to supply S8 substances
• make recommendations to the CHO concerning appropriate training programs for medical practitioners to supply S8 substances
• provide expert advice to the CHO about the treatment of persons (whether generally or in relation to a particular person) with S8 substances
• advise the CHO in relation to the granting, variation, suspension or revocation of authorisation to supply S8 substances
• make recommendation to the CHO in relation to the granting, variation, suspension or revocation of authorisations for S8 substances
• provide advice to the CHO about whether matters relation to the supply of a S8 substance should be referred to a National Health Practitioner Board
• advise the CHO about policy issues in relation to the supply and use of S8 and restricted S4 substances
• receive in writing other matters referred by the CHO.

Members

Committee members are appointed by the CHO and must include the following:

• at least two doctors with expertise in pain management or rehabilitation
• at least two doctors with experience in general practice
• at least one doctor who is employed in the Department of Health and working in the community drugs program managed by the department
• at least one person who:
  • is not a doctor
  • is working in the community drugs program managed by the Agency
• at least one pharmacist with experience in the community pharmacy practice area
• at least one pharmacist with experience in the hospital or clinical pharmacy practice area.

The committee generally meets face to face three times a year, with regular out of sessions.

Contact

Secretariat
Medicines and Poisons
Department of Health
5th floor Manunda Place
38 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT 0800
poisonscontrol@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8922 7341
Fax: 08 8922 7200