Abstract:
Background: Inappropriate use of narcotic drugs is a growing worldwide health challenge. The problem is even worse in SubSaharan Africa where organized supply chain regulations on dispensing and stock management are poor for controlling these
global challenges.
Methods: A mixed method, descriptive cross-sectional and simulated client study design was used from September 10, 2020 to
November 26, 2020 to assess the extent of utilization and compliance of narcotic drug dispensing in private pharmacy retail
outlets of Gondar and Bahir Dar town of Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 107 private pharmacy outlets were on duty. But in
simulated study, purposive sampling is a method that prioritizes study units having the data of interest.
Results: A total of 107 private pharmacy retails outlets were included in the survey. The average compliance to the controlled
prescription regulation of Ethiopia in all pharmacy outlets (107) of the five drugs were calculated and found to be poor, 23.9%
(SD = 18.3%). Compliance to strong narcotics is extremely low, 3.3 % for pethidine and 8% for morphine. Religion of the
professionals has significant association with compliance to the prescription of narcotic drugs (p < .001).
Discussion: In the era of narcotic epidemics, as a result of growing global inappropriate use of controlled drugs, the finding of
this study gives an insight for a serious and strict regulation in managing and controlling the overall distribution of the narcotic
drugs.
Conclusions: The compliance of the private retail pharmacies of Ethiopia to the regulation of controlled drugs is low.
