• Claire L Tobin, Malcolm Dobbin, and Brian McAvoy.
• School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division, Victorian Department of Health Capri Hospital, New Zealand.
• Aust N Z J Public Health. 2013 Oct 1; 37 (5): 483-8.

ObjectiveAnalysis of the policy response by Australia's National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC) and comparison with recommendations by expert advisory committees in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.MethodsAnalysis of public policy documents of relevant regulatory authorities was conducted. Data were extracted regarding changes to over-the-counter (OTC) codeine analgesic scheduling, indications, maximum unit dose, maximum daily dose, maximum pack size, warning labels, consumer medicine information and advertising. Where available, public submissions and other issues considered by the committees and rationale for their recommendations were recorded and thematically analysed.ResultsExpert advisory committees in Australia, NZ and the UK defined the policy problem of OTC codeine misuse and harm as small relative to total use and responded by restricting availability. Pharmacist supervision was required at the point-of-sale and pack sizes were reduced to short-term use.ConclusionsComparison with recommendations by expert advisory committees in NZ and the UK suggests the NDPSC's actions in response to OTC codeine misuse were appropriate given the available evidence of misuse and harm, but highlights opportunities to utilise additional regulatory levers.ImplicationsFraming policy problems as matters of public health in the context of limited evidence may support decision makers to implement cautionary incremental policy change.© 2013 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2013 Public Health Association of Australia.

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