Purpose
This policy brief discusses the central role of pharmacists in resolving the issue of the opioid epidemic. The assessment of this point involves an appreciation of pharmacists’ views on the non-enforcement of regulations for opioid drugs, their engagement in opioid stewardship activities, and their duties in the prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery of people affected by opioid crises.
Literature Review
In the study by Bishop et al. (2021), the authors addressed Canadian registered pharmacists’ perspective on the adaptations made under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the jurisdiction of Health Canada. This exemption, which is primarily designed to promote the proper management of opioid prescriptions by pharmacists to improve efficiency, also enables them to provide quick access to patients by ensuring the timely release of opioids for people in need. A study was done analyzing qualitative key informant telephone interviews on pharmacists who had been practicing on the exemptions from all the regions in Canada and who had the experience of as well as provided care for patients using opioids. The research report showed several significant themes: optimizing opioid-related patient care, the jurisdictions’ impact, and education and awareness. Pharmacists emphasized how the pharmacy exemptions complemented their role in opioid stewardship and significantly improved their ability to provide patient-centered care. As pharmacists, we saw these exemptions as an essential tool that would enable us to monitor better and appropriately manage opioid use among patients. Besides, they pointed out the difficulties, including the lack of relevant institutions and low level of education & support. Bratberg et al. (2019) provide a thorough review of scientist-based opioid-regulated programs used in application to deal with the crisis. The narrative review outlines the different roles that pharmacy professionals play in preventing opioid abuse, screening and managing opioid use, and giving access to naloxone and recovery aids to people who have opioid use disorder (OUD). Pharmacists have demonstrated through drugs not only their ability to extend their limits but also their role as a link in the chain of various opioid crisis interventions. These programs employ pharmacists’ expertise and experience in preventive care, overdose prevention, treatment, and assistance in recovery that address the customers affected by opioid abuse.
Current Situation
The opioid problem has continued to be a significant public health concern in both Canada and the United States. In the territory of Canada, the cases of overdoses and deaths induced by opiates are still on the uphill despite attempts made to combat the crisis. Opioid addiction has also spread in the United States, and opioid overdose deaths turned out to be the first cause of accidents without clinical supervision. Pharmacists, in contrast, are the most suitable professionals to participate in publicizing different features of the opioid dilemma due to their availability and competency in medication management. However, pharmacists do make a significant contribution in going against the tide of the opioid crisis; nevertheless, it is faced with a whole lot of hurdles. Numerous roadblocks, scarcity of resources, and persistent stigmatization of OUD, coupled with the absence of operational frameworks, make it impossible for pharmacists to offer their encoded knowledge and skills in this field. Besides that, disparities in healthcare systems are more compounding in the lives of people living in different jurisdictions and communities, which lessens the chances of achieving universal healthcare solutions. Nevertheless, there are just the same chances to extend the prestigious position of pharmacists by opposition to the narcotics issue.
Recommendations
Based on the findings from the literature review and the current challenges and opportunities identified, the following comprehensive recommendations are proposed to enhance the role of pharmacists in addressing the opioid crisis: Based on the findings from the literature review and the current challenges and opportunities identified, the following comprehensive recommendations are proposed to enhance the role of pharmacists in addressing the opioid crisis:
Policy Shifts and Regulator’s Assistance
Accomplish the policy modification with the help of chairs and members from both the federal and provincial levels to provide resources to pharmacist-led opioid stewardship activities. This involves permitting pharmacists to practice to provide holistic health care to those afflicted with OUD and ensuring the availability of the life-saving naloxone antidote. Besides, an approach must be developed to guarantee correspondences among the governing structures in different regions. This would mean all the inconsistencies will be eliminated and care given quickly.
Interprofessional Collaboration
Coordinate the treatment of drug use disorder between the pharmacists, prescribers, specialists in the field of drug laitance, mental health professionals, and other healthcare providers to guarantee comprehensive and integrated care. That initiative will be an extensive negotiation that will include drafting the game’s rules and guiding how to transition from one level of care to another without obstacles. Interdisciplinary education and workforce training should be developed to promote improved teamwork and communication among healthcare team members.
Education and Training Programs
Allocate funds for continuing education and training schemes for pharmacists seeking to improve their opioid stewardship knowledge, OUD evidence-based treatment approach, harm reduction strategies, and trauma-informed care. These programs need to be individualized, to which they may be addressing the work environment of the pharmacist; the incorporation of experiential learning, case studies, and interactive workshops need to be included. We should also strive to insert classes on opioids into pharmacy school programs so that future pharmacists are appropriately trained on the issue.
Community Engagement and Public Awareness
Including patients, families, advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers in association with community stakeholders, pharmacists can establish awareness and identify evidence-based measures to tackle opioid abuse. Such efforts include community meetings, public information sessions, and outreach activities in an attempt to clear up misperceptions, reduce stigmatization, and support people with substances begging for help. Besides, pharmacists should engage actively in the formation of local coalitions and task forces targeting the reduction of opioid use and further provide the elected parties with their professional opinions on the crisis’ community solutions.
Research and Evaluation
Fund research examines the impact of pharmacist-led intervention on hospitals’ performance, utilization of resources, and the entire healthcare system budget. This will be done by providing thoughtful and robust assessments that identify which program performs best, which needs to be plugged in, and where improvement is required. The researchers need to work alongside pharmacists, doctors, policymakers, and community organizations to make research findings relevant to those who manage the provision of these services to ensure they are transformed into evidence-based policies and practices. Furthermore, efforts will be directed toward institutionalizing study translation and public dissemination of research outcomes through peer-reviewed publications, conference attendance, and policy briefs.
Conclusion
To conclude, pharmacists have a central role in overcoming the opioid crisis, not only by raising awareness but also by implementing effective medication management and administration. Their knowledge in administering medication, availability of provided care, and patient-centered approach position them as incredible partners in obstructing opioid misuse, promoting the safe use of opioids, and helping those fighting opioid use disorder. Psychiatrists, policymakers, community leaders, and other stakeholders can all contribute by removing the regulatory obstructions and ensuring collaboration between them and the pharmacists. Education and training of the pharmacist employees should also be included to improve their counseling and emergency intervention skills.
References
Bishop, L. D., Rosenberg-Yunger, Z. R. S., & Dattani, S. (2021). Pharmacists’ perceptions of the Canadian opioid regulatory exemptions on patient care and opioid stewardship. Canadian Pharmacists Journal / Revue Des Pharmaciens Du Canada, 171516352110345. https://doi.org/10.1177/17151635211034530
Bratberg, J. P., Smothers, Z. P. W., Collins, K., Erstad, B., Ruiz Veve, J., & Muzyk, A. J. (2019). Pharmacists and the opioid crisis: A narrative review of pharmacists’ practice roles. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 3(2), 478–484. https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1171
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