Why pharmacist awareness of SUDs is so important
Jessica Goodman, is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Idaho State University (IDSU) L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, Anchorage Campus; and Brittney Patton, Abby Ramsey, Clayton Salmon, and Maddie Williams are second-year PharmD candidates at the IDSU L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy, Meridian Campus.
It is already well-known that pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers for many individuals. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to provide education to patients and spearhead harm reduction efforts. On the flip side, stigma and biases from pharmacists can worsen outcomes for this vulnerable population, as patients may experience barriers to approaching their pharmacy counter for something as simple as clean needles. Like any medical condition, a greater awareness and understanding of SUDs allows a pharmacist to be more than a medication dispenser.
For someone in recovery, a knowledgeable and empathetic pharmacist who can connect with them will be much more beneficial. Pharmacists have a lot of patients who rely on their knowledge and expertise, especially when they are making decisions about their health. If we are unaware of SUD, we are not doing our part as health care advocates, which can lead to patients believing that we do not value their well-being.
What is the pharmacist’s role in SUD management?
First and foremost, we must be upfront with patients about what to expect from their medications. We must provide accurate education regarding various treatment options. Medications are just one tool in the treatment toolbox, not miracles. We can optimize patient care by being honest and encouraging as patients may need to try multiple treatment options. We can serve as a resource for our patients when one option does not work, making sure we have done our research and looked into other options that might work best for them based on where they are in their recovery journey.
Harm reduction is another incredibly important role of the pharmacist. Measures such as clean needles and naloxone access keep these patients as safe as possible until they are ready for recovery. In addition, pharmacists improve continuity of care for other services, such as mental health services or HIV care.
Top takeaways from the APhA Institute
We attended the 2024 APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders, held May 29 to June 1 in Salt Lake City, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our top takeaways from the conference were the importance of advocating for patients and integrating into the patient support system. The APhA Institute provided a perspective on the disorder that we may often overlook—humanizing patients. It was a reminder to us that these individuals are parents, siblings, friends, peers, and all of the above. It is so easy to forget that our patients are actual people who are experiencing things that they may not fully understand yet.
Pharmacists need to support our patients, and we cannot do that without fully grasping what SUDs are. While pharmacologic therapies can be helpful, they may vary in effectiveness from one patient to another and are not always appropriate for their situation. On the other hand, a support system is recommended for every patient. We have the opportunity to be a part of the therapeutic support system for our patients.
Student pharmacists should think about attending the 2025 APhA Institute this May. Check out https://aphainstitute.pharmacist.com for schedule and registration information.