Module 1: Professional Accountability and Prescribing

Lesson 1

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) was passed in 1996, replacing the Narcotic Control Act (1961) and certain sections of the Food and Drug Act (1985). This particular piece of legislation meets Canada’s obligations under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions, including the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances treaty (1971), which outlines the expectations of the 183 global members related to the manufacture and use of controlled drugs and substances and restricts their legal use to medical and research purposes only. Through its administration of the CDSA, Health Canada is responsible for ensuring that controlled drugs and substances are handled effectively and remain in legal distribution channels, and that there is no interference with valid commercial, medical and scientific activities (Canada Gazette, New classes of practitioners regulations, 2012) . The CDSA also outlines storage, transport, disposal, and record keeping requirements.