ANALYSIS OF INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY PHARMACIES TO COMBAT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Abstract

The opioid epidemic has been described as the worst drug epidemic in American history, with over 500,000 opioid overdose deaths occurring from 1999-2019. While rates of opioid overdose deaths have plateaued recently, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids have continued to increase sharply. Community-based approaches involving informal networks, local organizations, and community pharmacies may be particularly well-suited to addressing the opioid epidemic in its present phase, characterized by increasingly illicit and illegal use of opioids (Bach & Hartung, 2019). Small community-based initiatives that are inexpensive and easy to implement may help mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic. Prescribed opioids and heroin are both part of a larger class of drugs known as opioids. Opioids act on the brain to provide pain relief, but can also produce a euphoric high. In addition to prescribed pain relievers, illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl are also opioids. With increasing opioid use, one can become addicted to it. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized as compulsive opioid use despite negative consequences. The community pharmacy setting offers unique opportunities to identify and intervene in cases of OUD. Community pharmacies are commonplace and easily accessible; they are frequented by a large number of patients; and they have a prior trusted health professional relationship with patients. Community pharmacy initiatives to address OUD are most relevant in smaller towns and rural areas, where the community pharmacy often serves as the only pharmacy-based health care service provider. A comprehensive search of the scientific literature was undertaken to analyze past, current, and proposed initiatives and strategies implemented by pharmacies in the community to address OUD. Studies, comments, and viewpoints were included if they discussed community pharmacy initiatives that addressed OUD in some capacity. This analysis attempts to identify similar themes among the reviewed literature and describe how community pharmacies have stepped in and attempted to address the growing OUD epidemic.