New Requirements under Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act

The new requirements under the Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act, 2010, come into effect November 1, changing the way prescription narcotics and other controlled substances are prescribed and dispensed in Ontario. Some examples of common narcotic medications include acetaminophen with codeine and oxycodone. Controlled substances include all drugs listed under Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including methylphendidate, benzodiazepines and barbiturates.

As of November 1, 2011:

  • Ontarians must provide personal ID to their doctor, dentist and pharmacist in order to receive prescription narcotics and controlled substance medications.
  • Ontarians may also be required to present ID if they have been authorized to pick up prescription narcotics or other monitored medication for someone else.
  • Doctors and pharmacists must record the identifying number and the type of identification that is used – which may then be disclosed to the Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care and/or the Executive Officer of Ontario Public Drug Programs.

The Act authorizes the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to collect, use and disclose personal health information for three main goals:

  • To promote appropriate prescribing and dispensing practices for monitored drugs;
  • To identify and reduce the abuse, misuse, and diversion of monitored drugs; and
  • To reduce the risk of addiction and death resulting from the abuse or misuse of monitored drugs.

The aim of Ontario's Narcotics Strategy is to promote proper use, prescribing and dispensing of prescription narcotics and other controlled substance medications, while ensuring that people who need them continue to have access. This is being done to help reduce the misuse, addiction, unlawful activities and deaths related to these medications. Patients who receive a prescription for a monitored drug cannot opt out from having their prescription information from being recorded and reported to the ministry.

The Narcotics Monitoring System is currently being developed to collect and store information on prescribing and dispensing activities for these medications. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is working with pharmacy software vendors to confirm the final requirements, and implementation is not expected until Spring 2012.

Details on the new requirements and other important information, which may be updated periodically, are available on the Ministry website at:

Action Ontario would like to know if you are experiencing challenges with regards to access effective pain treatment. If you have any experiences you would like to share, please email email@actionontario.ca.