Table HSR-2. Legal framework of opioid substitution treatment initiation, continuation and dispensing (by substitution medication) in EU-27, Croatia, Turkey and Norway [see all tables in this series...]

Part (iii) Legal framework regarding the dispensing of substitution medications

Country		METHADONE							HIGH DOSAGE BUPRENORPHINE							BUPRENORPHINE-NALOXONE COMBINATION							SLOW-RELEASE MORPHINE
		specialised treatment centres	specialised medical doctors' offices	any medical doctor office	pharmacies	mobile outreach units	other provider		specialised treatment centres	specialised medical doctors' offices	any medical doctor office	pharmacies	mobile outreach units	other provider		specialised treatment centres	specialised medical doctors' offices	any medical doctor office	pharmacies	mobile outreach units	other provider		specialised treatment centres	specialised medical doctors' offices	any medical doctor office	pharmacies	mobile outreach units	other provider
Belgium (Flemish community)		Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	Y		Y	Y
Belgium (French community)		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y			Y				Y			Y
Bulgaria		Y																					Y
Czech Republic		Y							Y		Y					Y		Y
Denmark		Y			Y	Y			Y			Y	Y			Y			Y	Y									(i)
Germany		Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	(i)	Y	Y		Y		Y	(i)	Y	Y		Y		Y	(i)
Estonia		Y							Y							Y
Ireland		Y			Y	Y			Y							Y
Greece		Y							Y							Y
Spain	(1)	Y			Y	Y													Y
France		Y			Y	Y						Y	Y													Y
Italy		Y			Y	Y	Y	(ii)	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	(ii)	Y		Y	Y		Y	(ii)		Y	Y	Y
Cyprus
Latvia		Y							Y			Y				Y			Y
Lithuania		Y							Y							Y
Luxembourg		Y	Y		Y	Y			Y			Y											Y			Y
Hungary		Y														Y	Y		Y
Malta
Netherlands		Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y	Y					Y	Y	Y					Y	Y	Y
Austria		Y			Y				Y			Y											Y			Y
Poland		Y
Portugal		Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y	Y
Romania		Y		Y	Y	Y										Y		Y	Y	Y
Slovenia		Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y					Y	Y	Y					Y
Slovakia		Y							Y							Y
Finland		Y							Y							Y			Y
Sweden
Uk		Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y	Y			(ii)
Croatia
Turkey	(2)
Norway		Y	Y		Y				Y	Y		Y				Y	Y		Y

Notes:

 "Y" indicates whether a specific provider is involved in dispensing opioid substitution treatment.                                                

 Where a specific provider is not allowed to dispense a specfic medication, the table entry is left empty. Exception for Malta, Sweden and Croatia for which data were not available .                                           

 "Specialized medical doctors" refers to specifically trained or accredited office-based medical doctors or general practitioners practicing outside specialised drug treatment centres.                                           

 "Any medical doctor" refers to office-based medical doctors practicing outside specialised drug treatment centres.                                               

 (1) In Spain, high dosage buprenorphine is not commercially available.                                     

 (2) In Turkey opioid substitution treatment strategy is not available                                   

 Other providers:                                                           

 (i) Hospitals                                                     

 (ii) Emergency rooms but only under the prescritpion of a specialised medical doctor                                                 

 See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.                             

Sources:

 Structured Questionnaire on 'treatment programmes' (SQ27P1), submitted by NFPs in 2005 and 2008.                             

 Answers from the legal correspondents of the European Legal Database on Drugs (ELDD) to a EMCDDA survey on the legal framework of substitution treatment (2006). See also ELDD topic overview.                                           

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