Substance Use Disorder

According to Anita Jacobson, PharmD, pharmacists should actively facilitate access to harm reduction programs by providing information and resources, ensuring the person who uses drugs doesn’t have to navigate the landscape on their own.

It’s important that pharmacists continuously revise their counseling as new information about substances such as xylazine, levamisole, and phenacetin emerges, said Anita Jacobson at this year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Exposition.

At APhA 2024, 2 posters looked into how collaboration between physicians and community pharmacists is crucial when it comes to opioid prescriptions, and current opioid use patterns among older adults.

At this year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Exposition, Mark Garofoli urged pharmacists to develop strong documentation practices and go beyond baseline federal regulations to care for patients with red flags.

Pharmacists must uphold their “corresponding responsibility” to address controlled substance concerns among patients while balancing safety and respect, said Mark Garofoli at this year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Exposition.

The first nonprescription, OTC naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) was approved by the FDA in March 2023.

Telehealth mitigates barriers like stigma, fear, and legal concerns associated with receiving opioid use disorder (OUD) care by offering a convenient and discreet treatment option.