Non-medical prescribers within substance misuse services

Abstract

Non-medical prescribers (NMPs) are more easily understood as prescribers who are not doctors or dentists. Within substance misuse settings, they have been functioning effectively since the non-medical independent/supplementary prescribing initiative emerged in the UK in 2006. At this time, capability to prescribe extended to make it more attractive in substance misuse service provision. Since then, within the wider context of public health drivers, NMPs in substance misuse are proven to be safe and cost-effective and to improve accessibility to medicines.