How Pharmacists Can Address the Growth of Pandemic-Era Substance Use Disorders

Professionals who work in the field of substance use disorders (SUD) say pharmacists could better serve vulnerable individuals through increased medication counseling, increased engagement in harm reduction practices, and by providing community-level SUD education, according to study findings published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on people at risk of or suffering from SUD, and the need for pharmacist engagement in the care of these individuals has never been more critical,” wrote authors from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. “It is imperative for the practice of pharmacy to understand the emerging syndemic of COVID-19 and substance use and be prepared to take action.”

To investigate where pharmacy practice could take a more active role in SUD prevention, intervention, and recovery in current times, researchers recruited SUD professionals from a large community substance use coalition to provide input via semi-structured interviews.

An analysis of interviews with 25 SUD professionals revealed 6 domains of how pharmacists could adapt their practice to better address SUD issues: (1) pharmacists as educators of patients and communities; (2) pharmacists as educators of health care providers; (3) pharmacists as advocates for individuals with SUD; (4) the need for increased pharmacist engagement due to COVID-19 challenges for people with SUD; (5) the need for expanded pharmacy practice interventions; and (6) the need for pharmacist self-development.

A frequently mentioned aspect of educating patients and communities was the need for more medication counseling, according to study authors. Also mentioned was the need to educate health care providers on medications for patients with opioid use disorder.

Additionally, advocacy for harm reduction and naloxone training in the community would be beneficial, noted professionals.Another suggestion researchers considered worthy of immediate attention was the need for SUD destigmatization among pharmacists.

“My experience is that pharmacies are really afraid of people they perceive as this stereotype of a junkie that are going to clean out the cash drawer, and they think that by not embracing them, they are keeping them out of their store, which is misguided at best,” explained a SUD professional quoted in the study.

Researchers advised pharmacists to acknowledge any bias that may be present and seek to educate themselves on the neuroscience of addiction, which may aid in developing a willingness to serve patients with SUD.

Reference:
Kosobuski L, Hawn A, France K, Chen N, LaPlante C, Palombi L. Using qualitative, community-based input to steer post-COVID-19 pharmacy practice in substance use. J Am Pharm Assoc. Published online March 19, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.03.014