Fatal Pretenses: Controlled Substance Validation and Access in a Time of Crisis

Course overview

Pharmacy has been thrust into the national spotlight as solutions are sought to manage the inappropriate distribution of prescription medications. This session seeks to explore various tools available to the pharmacy staff to combat illicit distribution, while maintaining appropriate and legitimate patient access to prescribed medications. The effectiveness and limitations of state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) are discussed in the context of “red flag” behaviors that may suggest inappropriate distribution. The session further seeks to identify current trends in the use and misuse of controlled substances from multiple professional, sociological, and regulatory perspectives. The role of opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, is discussed in the context of rapidly changing clinical and regulatory environments.