Final answer:
Pharmacists are not authorized to prescribe narcotic drugs according to the Narcotic Control Regulations, they can only dispense medications prescribed by other healthcare practitioners.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Narcotic Control Regulations of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, pharmacists may NOT prescribe narcotic drugs. While nurse practitioners, podiatrists, and midwives in certain jurisdictions may have the authority to prescribe narcotics under specified conditions, pharmacists primarily have the role of dispensing drugs that are prescribed by other authorized healthcare professionals.
This includes narcotics like opium, heroin, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, Vicodin, and methadone. Pharmacists are required to hold a doctorate in pharmacy, be licensed, and must possess extensive knowledge of chemistry and biology to understand the effects of drugs on the body.