Editing Medication (section)

==Regulation==
{{Main|Regulation of therapeutic goods}}

The regulation of drugs varies by jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the United States, they are regulated at the national level by a single agency. In other jurisdictions, they are regulated at the state level, or at both state and national levels by various bodies, as is the case in Australia.  The role of therapeutic goods regulation is designed mainly to protect the health and safety of the population. Regulation is aimed at ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of the therapeutic goods which are covered under the scope of the regulation. In most jurisdictions, therapeutic goods must be registered before they are allowed to be marketed. There is usually some degree of restriction on the availability of certain therapeutic goods depending on their risk to consumers.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Depending upon the [[jurisdiction]], drugs may be divided into [[over-the-counter drug]]s (OTC) which may be available without special restrictions, and [[prescription drug]]s, which must be [[Medical prescription|prescribed]] by a licensed medical practitioner in accordance with [[medical guideline]]s due to the risk of adverse effects and [[contraindication]]s. The precise distinction between OTC and prescription depends on the legal jurisdiction. A third category, "behind-the-counter" drugs, is implemented in some jurisdictions. These do not require a prescription, but must be kept in the [[dispensary]], not visible to the public, and be sold only by a pharmacist or [[pharmacy technician]]. Doctors may also prescribe prescription drugs for [[off-label use]] – purposes which the drugs were not originally approved for by the regulatory agency. The [[Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals]] helps guide the referral process between pharmacists and doctors.

The [[International Narcotics Control Board]] of the United Nations imposes a world law of [[prohibition]] of certain drugs. They publish a lengthy list of chemicals and plants whose trade and consumption (where applicable) are forbidden. OTC drugs are sold without restriction as they are considered safe enough that most people will not hurt themselves accidentally by taking it as instructed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tips for Medication Safety |date=July 21, 2016 |author1=Gina |url=http://www.housefindings.com/tips-for-medication-safety/|website=House Findings|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914133316/http://www.housefindings.com/tips-for-medication-safety/|archive-date=14 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many countries, such as the United Kingdom have a third category of "pharmacy medicines", which can be sold only in registered [[pharmacy|pharmacies]] by or under the supervision of a pharmacist.

[[Medical error]]s include over-prescription and [[polypharmacy]], mis-prescription, contraindication and lack of detail in dosage and administration instructions. In 2000 the definition of a prescription error was studied using a [[Delphi method]] conference; the conference was motivated by ambiguity in what a prescription error is and a need to use a uniform definition in studies.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Dean B, Barber N, Schachter M |date=December 2000 |title=What is a prescribing error? |journal=Qual Health Care |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=232–7 |doi=10.1136/qhc.9.4.232 |pmc=1743540 |pmid=11101708 }}</ref>