Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jan 2021
Effect of drug disposal bag provision on families' disposal of children's unused opioids.
One strategy to combat opioid misuse is to remove excess opioids from circulation by providing patients with drug disposal products that enable the safe disposal of opioids. We aimed to evaluate opioid use and disposal of unused opioids among children and young adults before and after pharmacy staff at our institution began to provide patients and families filling opioid prescriptions with a drug disposal bag. ⋯ Providing a drug disposal bag to families of children receiving opioids increases the likelihood of excess opioid disposal. Greater availability of drug disposal products can complement prescribing reduction efforts aimed at decreasing prescription opioid misuse.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jan 2021
Managing medication supply chains: Lessons learned from Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic and preparedness planning for the future.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed unprecedented challenges for nations worldwide, among which medication shortages can cause a devastatingly negative impact on global health. Using Taiwan as an example, this report describes the sources of potential medication shortages, discusses the preparedness and contingency strategies to address medication shortages, and outlines the evidence-based recommendations on ensuring a stable medication supply and improving the quality and security of medicines. Many drug shortages have focused on shortfalls of overseas manufacturing, but the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on misallocation of medications within the nation's internal supply chains is also a great concern. ⋯ Strategies have been documented and recommended in Taiwan and the United States to mitigate drug shortages and ensure the long-term quality and security of medicines. Barriers to accessing medicines are nothing new, but the COVID-19 pandemic poses urgent and even novel challenges to the stability and integrity of medication supply, which urges for a need to reconsider and reinforce effective management strategies for pharmaceuticals. Active management, transparent information, and timely communications are essential to ensure a stable supply of key therapeutic medications, especially during a pandemic.
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J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) · Jan 2021
Alaska pharmacists: First responders to the pandemic in the last frontier.
Pharmacists are among the nation's most accessible and underused health professionals. Within their scope of practice, pharmacists can prescribe and administer vaccines, conduct point-of-care testing, and address drug shortages through therapeutic substitutions. ⋯ The primary barrier to pharmacists augmenting the current COVID-19 response is an inability to cover the costs of providing these health services. Pharmacists in Alaska are ready to meet COVID-19-related clinical needs if public and private insurers and legislators can help address the barriers to service sustainability.