“I believe that many of our advances in pharmacy education have occurred because our relative smallness and the inclusive structure of AACP allow us, most often, to operate with a degree of trust that comes from strong relationships,” Maine commented. “Occasionally we will hit on a topic that is challenging, like changing degrees, but with adequate opportunity for dialogue about what is the right thing to do and sufficient trust, we make the right decision and move forward together to implement and succeed. I challenge you to think about that in the context of your work back home and especially in the important work unfolding in interprofessional education, research and practice.”
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academic Pharmacy now Fall 2012
Prescription Drugs Prove Problematic The combination of two renowned speakers and a thought-provoking topic drew a large crowd to the Science Plenary. Dr. Bryan W. Brooks, professor of environmental science and biomedical studies at Baylor University, and R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, led an enlightening discussion about the key scientific, environmental and societal issues associated with prescription drug abuse and waste. Our environment is in jeopardy because of how we handle the disposal of excess medicine and by-products of manufacturing, Brooks asserted. He pointed out that pharmaceuticals, while essential to healthcare, are very different than other contaminants—once entered into the environment, they are a risk to the world. Still, we shouldn’t worry too much about their effects on public health. Residuals entering the ecosystem through excretion, waste water treatment plants or human disposal could be harmful, but they don’t pose a major threat in their miniscule amounts. We should be concerned, however, with the ecological impact of improper medication disposal. Brooks said that drug take-back events, in which many pharmacy schools participate, are effective in safely collecting unused medications without harming the environment. One in four people using drugs for the first time in 2010 began by using a prescription drug non-medically, Kerlikowske said. His office is tasked with establishing policies, priorities and objectives for the country’s drug-control program to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences. The Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan provides a framework to address this growing epidemic with four focus areas: education, drug monitoring programs, proper medication disposal and enforcement. Within each area are recommendations to address a need for more education or training. For example, according to the report, 67.5 percent of pharmacists reported receiving two hours or less of addiction or substance abuse education in pharmacy school; 29.2 percent of pharmacists surveyed reported receiving no addiction education. How do we fill this education gap? Legislation requiring mandatory education for all clinicians who prescribe controlled substances as well as increased substance abuse education in health profession schools are two action items suggested in the report. There is no simple solution to the problem of prescription drug abuse, but we all have a role to play, Kerlikowske noted, especially pharmacists and pharmacy educators.