Pharmacists at the Front Lines in Preventing Opioid Abuse

Dan Hartung, M.P.H., Associate Professor at OSU/OHSU College of Pharmacy, studies population use of prescription drugs, as well as evaluates the impact of drug policy on health outcomes, pharmacoepidemiology, and health economics. As opioid abuse continues to be a major public health issue, the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, recognized the need for pharmacist involvement, giving OSU/OHSU a three year grant to develop training materials for pharmacists using Oregon’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). Dan works with the Pharmacy Quality Alliance to equip pharmacists with techniques that can be used on the “front lines” to help prevent opioid abuse. “Responsibility is on the prescribing provider, but also on the pharmacist. Because pharmacists are on the front lines, we advocate for expanded roles for pharmacists to advocate for safer use of opioids” Hartung said. The Response Toolkit is being tested in some Oregon pharmacies and results are expected in the fall of 2018. To read the full story, click here.
Source: http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/