Florida Voters Reject New Medical Marijuana Law
A proposed amendment to Florida’s state constitution that would have legalized medical marijuana failed to reach the 60% margin required to be enacted, receiving an estimated 58% of the vote, according to Florida Today. The measure would have protected health care providers, qualifying patients, and registered medical marijuana treatment centers from criminal or civil liability […]
Read More ›Proliferation of Rogue Online Drug Sellers Feeds Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic, NABP Reports
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) today issued a report highlighting a connection between the proliferation of rogue online drug sellers and the prescription drug abuse epidemic. As detailed in the Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: October 2014, many illegal online drug sellers offer dangerous and […]
Read More ›California Requires Outsourcing Facilities to Be Registered as Pharmacies if Compounding or Dispensing Drug Within or Into the State
The California Board of Pharmacy is reminding its licensees that licensure as an outsourcing facility under Section 503B of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act does not exempt or except pharmacies from state licensure requirements. To compound or dispense drug products within or into California, pharmacies must be licensed in California as a resident or […]
Read More ›Pharmacy Robberies Plague Arizona, Other States, Says DEA
Fueled by the prescription drug abuse epidemic, Arizona experienced the most pharmacy robberies in 2013 with 77 incidents, according to a report compiled by Drug Topics using Drug Enforcement Administration statistics. The report lists the top 10 states that had the most pharmacy thefts in 2013. Indiana took second place with 71 robberies. Nationally, pharmacy […]
Read More ›FDA Announces Availability of Draft Guidance Regarding Licensure Standards Under Title II of the DQSA
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a question-and-answer draft guidance document to assist industry and state governments in understanding the effects of section 585 (Uniform National Policy) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act added by Title II of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA). FDA is issuing this document, “The Effect […]
Read More ›Prescription Painkiller Abusers are Rarely Prepared to Respond to Overdoses, Study Finds
Most teens and young adults who abuse prescription painkillers are rarely informed about overdose awareness, avoidance, and response strategies, even those with significant overdose experiences, according to a study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy. The results of the study, “High risk and little knowledge: Overdose experiences and knowledge among young adult nonmedical […]
Read More ›Rates of Prescription Opioid and Heroin Overdose Deaths Remain High in Many States, CDC Indicates
Heroin deaths increased sharply in at least 28 states from 2010 to 2012, and at least twice as many people died from prescription opioid overdoses, new information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates. The study examined changes in heroin and prescription opioid death rates in 28 states, representing 56% of […]
Read More ›White House Releases National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finding that antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are responsible for an estimated 23,000 deaths each year, the White House has released a document detailing a national strategy to curb antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PDF) includes educational efforts for patients, pharmacists and other health […]
Read More ›Patient Satisfaction Higher With Patient-Pharmacist Communication
Patient satisfaction is higher when a pharmacist works with a patient to increase adherence and to thoroughly explain the risks and side effects of medications using multiple communication channels, a report from JD Power indicates. The JD Power 2014 US Pharmacy Study also found that pharmacist and staff interactions with customers are increasingly important drivers of […]
Read More ›California Passes Bill to Increase Role of Pharmacy Technicians
A California bill expanding the role of pharmacy technicians and interns was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 15, 2014. The new law is intended to “make more efficient use of pharmacy personnel,” such as enabling hospital pharmacists to spend more time collaborating with other health care providers, reports the Sacramento Business […]
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