substance abuse
Clinical tips: Opioid replacement therapy
Why should pharmacies participate in opioid replacement therapy programs? asks Karalyn Huxhagen There has been a comment of late on pharmacy social media sites as to whether pharmacists should charge …
Injecting room moves patients towards treatment
Melbourne’s medically supervised injecting centre has handled more than 1,130 overdoses since it opened, with many clients referred to drug and alcohol treatment Brunswick pharmacist and harm minimisation proponent Angelo …
Here to help
The rollout of SafeScript is highlighting the sheer number of Victorians at risk of harm from medicines of concern – and one program is offering to help Earlier this month, …
Surgery leading to opioid risk
More than 13,000 Australians each year may be at risk of developing a persistent opioid habit following elective surgery, according to a BMJ study New research has quantified the number …
Methadone costs ‘not fair’
Leading doctors and the PSA’s Chris Freeman have called for full Federal Government subsidy for methadone treatment, as concerns over opioid dependency grow Out of pocket costs for people accessing …
Forced tapering and cessation: opioid consequences
Australian pain stakeholders have spoken out about the unintended consequences of limiting opioid prescribing, as the US makes new recommendations on the matter The US Food and Drug Administration has …
Bad behaviour
Why do pharmacists and doctors divert or supply drugs for non-medical use? Australian researchers find out A small proportion of health practitioners contribute to the growing problem of pharmaceutical diversion …
What are they waiting for?
Why are some jurisdictions dragging their feet on real-time monitoring? asks Angelo Pricolo As Victoria powers ahead with the Australia’s first automated Real-Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) system, the elephant in …
Photocopied script dispensed 60 times
New Zealand’s pharmacy regulator is reportedly “stunned” that a woman was able to use a single photocopied script to get tramadol from 21 pharmacies Stuff reports that Ramona Deane developed …
Rego barred after forging colleague’s signature on script
A former pharmacist and medical practitioner has been barred from applying for registration from his professions for 18 months and two years respectively A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard …
‘It will take courage to face the failure of our current drug policies.’
NSW Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has called for a drug summit, attention to real time prescribing, better access to drug substitution programs and better pharmacy takeup of naloxone She …
Minister challenged on pharmacist naloxone role
The Health Minister has announced a commitment of $7.2 million to pilot a take-home naloxone program in Australia – but there’s no mention of pharmacy This week Greg Hunt announced …