PHARMACISTS in the USA are pushing for the right to prescribe naloxone, as a key part of the community's response to the opioid crisis.
The suggestion is one of eight recommendations presented to Congress last week by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), which says small business health care providers are able to help combat the problem at the local level.
NCPA represents over 22,000 independent community pharmacies comprising a US$81.5b health care marketplace employing more than 250,000 individuals.
As well as expanding the role of pharmacists in wider distribution of nalaxone, NCPA also recommended limits for maximum day supply for controlled substances, mandating electronic prescribing of controlled substances, as well as enhancing Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) by creating national standards.
Another significant proposal was to expand the ability of pharmacies to identify individuals with substance abuse disorders by participating in formal screening, brief, intervention and referral to treatment activities.
Visit ncpanet.org for details.
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