Pharmacy Daily | Tasmanian pharmacy naloxone push

COMMUNITY pharmacies in Tasmania should be integrated into the State's Take Home Naloxone trial to support efforts to tackle the harm caused by the misuse of opioids, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia believes.

Guild Tasmanian Branch President, John Dowling, called for pharmacies to be engaged in the trial following the release of the Penington Institute's Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2020, which showed opioids were the most common drug class identified in fatal overdoses (PD 31 Aug).

Dowling noted that the incidence of addiction through misuse of opioid medications leading to unintentional overdose had risen in the State over the last decade.

"The misuse of opioid medications can start innocuously, such as when it is prescribed for people leaving hospital to treat pain after a surgical procedure," he said.

"If the pain people experience becomes chronic it can, and often does, lead to addiction to opioid and sedative medications such as benzodiazepines."

Dowling said there was a lack of services to treat chronic pain and associated disorders such as depression in Tasmania.

He added that moves to up-schedule opioid medications and restrict prescription pack sizes, had limited access to medications, with patients turning to alternatives including increased alcohol consumption and other substances.

While the State's Take Home Naloxone trial is currently available through Primary Needle and Syringe outlets, but not via community pharmacies, which offer opioid substitution therapy, Dowling said rolling the trial out to pharmacies could boost awareness.

"Community pharmacy has needle and syringe pick-ups, offers opioid treatment and are aware of the opioids being prescribed to individuals," Dowling said.

"This means there is an opportunity for dialogue and engagement with patients about the use of naloxone and how it can save a life".

Meanwhile the Commonwealth Department of Health has advised the Take Home Naloxone Pilot has been updated to include an additional brand of naloxone - Junalox - which may be provided through the program from 27 Aug.