Controlled Drugs

You may find controlled drugs in your pharmaceutical display items. In Victorian times, drugs such as opium, cocaine, alcohol, and cannabis were common ingredients in a range of medicines, including children’s cough and cold medicines.

Morphine, or morphia, was also widely used in the past, and vials of it can now often be seen in historic military first aid kits, as well as in old district doctors’ and nurses’ medical kits. (We will later explore ways of caring for old medicine containers.)

World War ll medical kits, fighter pilot and bomber pilot kits, and tank crew memorabilia, may contain amphetamine tablets as well as morphine vials.

Opium was known as laudanum in Victorian times, or tincture of opiate. Amphetamines were used in World War ll under the brand names Benzedrine and Pervatin, and a host of others.

Provided the wrappers and containers appear to be intact, you will have to assume they still contain the original medicine. Similarly, if the containers still have liquid, cream, or tablets present, it would be safest to assume they are the original contents, and should be treated as dangerous drugs.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 sets out the law in relation to possessing and using what are now known as Class A, B, or C drugs.

This includes the drugs that may be found in the pharmaceutical displays of heritage organisations.

The drugs and medicines on display may also be classed as toxic.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, (July 2022 version) sets out the law in relation to possessing and using what are now known as Class A, B, or C drugs. There is little in the legislation regarding the display of controlled drugs for educational purposes, as in the case of a museum, archive, or gallery. Below are the categories of dangerous drugs, and some (but not all) examples of each class.

• Class A drugs include: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and psilocine, along with derivatives and precursors.
• Class B drugs include: amphetamine, opium, morphine, and cannabis, along with derivatives and precursors.
• Class C drugs include: coca leaf, codeine, diazepam, and cannabis fruit, plant, and seed, among others. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, controlled drugs are also classed as toxic chemicals, and as such, those managing heritage organisations have a duty of care to ensure that their staff and patrons are not harmed.

The Act also states that with regards to controlled drugs (tracked substances): (i) the whereabouts of the substances be recorded at all times or from time to time:
(ii) the quantity of the substances be recorded:
(iii) a person be identified as being in charge of the substances:
(iv) any person handling the substances hold prescribed qualifications

Ensure your institution’s H & S plan includes the following points:

• Identifying and labelling materials containing controlled drugs
• Assessing the risks from exhibits containing controlled drugs
• Processes for accidents, incidents, emergencies, and disposal concerning any items containing controlled drugs, including following the instructions in the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015
• Document staff training and keep secure medical records You can learn more about health and safety plans by going to H&S Management Plan

At a minimum, pharmaceutical products should be displayed in secure, locked cases with control of keyholder access and regular patrols. You may consider displaying the packaging only and have the contents removed. You may wish to contact your local police force or your local pharmacist to ask for advice around storage and security. As with all objects, modern and historic medicines are not designed to last indefinitely; some deterioration of contents and packaging may be expected. Good storage conditions will minimise environmental damage. Regular checks should reveal any major, sudden deterioration. To minimise deterioration, don’t open containers, especially if their seal is unbroken.

Check for signs of degradation:

• Powdery or crystalizing tablets
• Residue build-up around tops of bottles
• Greasy residue on sides or bottom of containers
• Broken glass bottles with residue on the interior glass
• Corroding screw top lids or broken cork stoppers

Care must be taken when handling paper bags or cardboard boxes that contain tablets or powders; these containers can become brittle or fragile over time, resulting in spillage and exposure.

Some medications contain ingredients that are explosive or become so when they deteriorate. The following is a partial list of ingredients that, if found in the collection, should not be touched or moved from where they were discovered:

• Picric acid. Found in bandage gauze or bottles in early first aid kits (as an antiseptic) and some feminine products, picric acid is flammable as a liquid and explosive when it forms picrate salts after evaporation, especially when in contact with heat or friction.
• Ether that has crystallized due to deterioration.
• Nitro-glycerine

If you wish to dispose of any dangerous drug items, contact a WorkSafe-accredited company, your local police station, or a pharmacy. WorkSafe encourages PCBUs to use the services of consultants who are listed on the HASANZ Register.

You can also contact the friendly Collections team at Tūhura Otago Museum for advice.

• Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
• Health and Safety at Work Act 2015