CANCDTGEN 005/25

Canadian Cadet General Order (CANCDTGEN)

Update to CATO 16-04 Regarding Self-Carry of Medications by Staff Cadets at Cadet Training Centers

References:

1. CATO 16-04, Procedures for Medication Management at a CSTC
2. Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
3. Drug Product Database online query – Health Canada

1. CJCR Gp has a responsibility to ensure that all medication at Cadet Training Centres (CTCs) is safe and accessible across a variety of settings, with a variety of age groups. Reference A provides instructions to cadets and their parents/guardians regarding how cadets’ medications are managed at CTCs. CJCR Gp is committed to reducing the risks of medication being misused, shared, damaged, or lost during CTC activities, while recognizing the increasing capacity and independence of older adolescent cadets to manage their own medications.
2. Controlled medications have a higher chance of being misused or abused; therefore they need extra care and supervision at CTCs to prevent them from being lost, misused, or causing harm to others. A list of controlled medications is available in reference B, and for more information on a specific medication you can search the database found in reference C. Examples include narcotics such as medications used to treat attention deficit disorders, including Vyvanse (Lisdexamphetamine), Methylphenidate (Concerta), and Amphetamine salts (Adderall). Physician or any licensed pharmacist in Canada, can also advise on which medications are classified as being controlled.
3. As a result of paras 1 and 2 above, reference A, para 8, is superseded by the following information:
   1. when Staff Cadets (SCdts) arrive at the CTC, they may carry and keep their own medications, with the exception of controlled medications, as long as they are interviewed and approved by a Registered Nurse or physician. The nurse or physician must confirm that the cadet meets the independence requirements outlined below;
   2. controlled medications brought to CTC by any cadet, including SCdts, will remain under the custody of medical staff, or the adult supervisor if medical staff are not available to allow the cadet or SCdt to self-administer their medication on the prescribed schedule; and
   3. on a case-by-case basis and by exception, a Registered Nurse or physician at a CTC may determine it to be medically appropriate for a course cadet to self-carry and manage their own medication, provided the independence criteria outlined below are satisfied. This arrangement is to be documented in the cadet’s medical file and discussed with the Senior Nursing Officer, who will ensure the cadets’ adult supervisor is aware and can support any cadets who will be carrying their own medications.
4. Upon arrival at CTC a Registered Nurse or physician will interview each SCdt who requires medication to determine if the independence criteria outlined below is met. To independently carry their medication, SCdts, or course cadets on a case-by-case basis, must:
   1. be fully knowledgeable about their medical condition and need for their medication(s);
   2. be fully independent to ensure medication compliance without supervision;
   3. be able to easily administer their own medication(s) correctly and routinely;
   4. have previously demonstrated the responsibility and maturity required to manage their medication(s) away from their home routine;
   5. demonstrate that there is no known or anticipated safety risk to the SCdt or other persons, if the medication is self-carried and self-administered by the SCdt;
   6. understand their obligation to report any loss of medication to their supervisors to ensure that a replacement can be arranged, if necessary;
   7. understand that the consequences of storing, sharing, or using their medication(s) irresponsibly may include termination of employment and the potential for further conduct review;
   8. not carry controlled medications; and
   9. sign CATO 16-04, Annex B, Medication Administration stating that they will secure the medications in an assigned area and will not share medications with any other cadet.
5. Further questions regarding medication management may be directed to the attention of the Regional Cadet Support Unit Medical Liaison Officers as outlined below:
   1. RCSU (Atlantic):
      1. Lt(N) Robin Coish Robin.Coish@cadets.gc.ca; or
      2. Capt Jeff Waidson Jeff.Waidson@cadets.gc.ca.
   2. RCSU (Eastern):
      1. Capt Lisa Caron Lisa.Caron@cadets.gc.ca.
   3. RSCU (Central):
      1. Capt Robert Bruyns Robert.Bruyns@cadets.gc.ca; or
      2. Capt Naomi-Nisha Charette Naomi.Charette@cadets.gc.ca.
   4. RCSU (Northwest):
      1. Capt Kim Grimard Kim.Grimard@cadets.gc.ca; or
      2. MWO Gerald Power Gerald.Power@cadets.gc.ca.
   5. RCSU (Pacific):
      1. Capt Andrea Crowe Andrea.Crowe@cadets.gc.ca.