A Pilot Project: Continuing Education for Pharmacists on Substance Abuse Prevention

Abstract

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy advocates that pharmacists can have a significant impact on substance abuse prevention provided they receive adequate training. Continuing education programs are needed to enable practicing pharmacists to augment their limited education. This paper examines the process the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) used to develop a pilot continuing education program for pharmacists. With limited literature and a small number of pharmacy teaching about substance abuse, input on topics and training methods was obtained from a convenience sample of practicing pharmacists to enhance the information from the pharmacist faculty regarded as content experts. Results of this pilot study revealed lack of agreement between faculty and practicing pharmacists regarding the prioritizing of content and educational methods. Consequently, input must be obtained from targeted audiences instead of relying solely on the advice of identified academic content experts when designing continuing educational programs. Other professions should consider this process when designing continuing education programs. Pharmacists are poised to play an important role in the prevention of substance abuse problems, but they need continuing education about substance abuse.

Recovering substance-impaired pharmacists' views regarding occupational risks for addiction

“…29 However, this level of trust may put pharmacists at increased risk, as they may be seen as invulnerable to the temptation for drug diversion and abuse. Despite calls to improve the pharmacy curriculum 14 and some efforts to increase education, 30-32 research has demonstrated that too little attention has been paid to the subject of substance abuse and impairment within pharmacy training programs 33-37 and the profession as a whole. 36, 38 Unfortunately, studies have also shown that addiction is a serious problem among a minority of pharmacists.…”

Substance Misuse Prevention as Corporate Social Responsibility

“…One proposal encourages pharmacists to take on the role of powerful drug misuse prevention agents by providing education and materials to the public (Graham, Pfeifer, Trumble, & Nelson, 1999;American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2003). This strategy is supported, not only by the fact that pharmacists are the public's most accessible health professionals, occupying a privileged position in the healthcare delivery network to provide such information, but also because they are viewed as the most trusted members of that network (Graham et al 1999).…”

Recommendations for Implementing Effective Substance Abuse Education in Pharmacy Practice

“…Increasing the number of CE programs in substance abuse education would provide pharmacists the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills and make them better able to intervene with patients affected by these disorders. 18 As more pharmacists become educated on the subject of SUD, the stigma, prejudice, and misunderstanding that surround substance abuse disorders will decrease.…”