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Opioid Use, Abuse and Misuse Resource Center
APhA works closely to monitor, respond and inform our members about opioid use, abuse, and misuse. This site will be updated with new information and resources as they become available.
Achieving a Proper Balance
APhA believes it is imperative that a proper balance be maintained in delivering appropriate pain management for the millions of patients with legitimate needs for controlled substances while taking steps to minimize inappropriate use and abuse. Pharmacists possess unique knowledge about the safe and effective use of medications and about the adverse events resulting from inappropriate use. Such knowledge enables pharmacists to play an important role in patient access to opioids, but also opioid drug abuse prevention, education, and assistance.
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Interactive tools and recent publications that can be used regularly or referenced to help pharmacists treat patients using opioids. Includes CDC Opioid Guide Mobile App, a buprenorphine treatment locator, CDC Pocket Guide: Tapering Opioids for Chronic Pain, Medicare Part D opioid mapping tool, and more! |
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A compilation of guidelines and resources to help pharmacist decision-making and improve communication with patients, such as clinical guidelines for the use of buprenorphine, warning signs related to prescribing and dispensing controlled substances, and medicines recommended for disposal by flushing. Newly added December 2017: Information Related to Mental and Behavioral Hrealth - Health Information Privacy (HHS) |
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State and federal resources that includes news and government issued materials related to opioids, such as Draft Interim Report of the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis (released July 2017), and information regarding state prescription drug monitoring programs. |
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A collection of training, webinars, and learning archives, including Pathways to Safer Opioid Use (free, CPE credit), an immersive, interactive training tool designed using opioid-related recommendations. Other resources discuss topics such as abuse deterrent formulations, care of patients with addiction, naloxone, and the role of pharmacy in opioid therapeutics. Continuing education credit is available for some of the trainings listed. |
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Looking for ways to get involved? This section highlights opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to connect with other professionals. |
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Various articles and research that discuss trends in prescription drug abuse, effectiveness and risks opioid treatment, abuse-deterrent formulations, buprenorphine and more! Newly added August 2017: Drug Overdose Deaths Among Adolescents Aged 15-19 in the United States: 1999-2015 (CDC, released August 2017) |
OPIOID NEWS
February 06, 2018
February 06, 2018
The National Conference of Pharmaceutical Organizations (NCPO), a coalition of organizations representing more than 300,000 pharmacy practitioners,...
APhA’s Menighan underscores critical role of pharmacists in the fight
January 30, 2018
January 30, 2018
Amid the proverbial opioid crisis, emergency department (ED) clinicians continuously seek evidence-based alternatives for analgesia. In a double-...
No statistically significant differences found in pain reduction between treatment groups
January 30, 2018
January 30, 2018
On January 23, DEA amended regulatory language regarding opioid addiction treatment to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to obtain...
Measure creates expanded buprenorphine prescribing
Please contact Jenna Ventresca (jventresca@aphanet.org) with any comments, concerns, or suggested content.
