New Mexico Pharmacists May Now Prescribe Opioid Overdose Reversal Medication
New Mexico is the first state to authorize pharmacists to prescribe naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses and keep victims alive until professional medical help can arrive. All pharmacists registered and practicing within New Mexico may prescribe naloxone, under a protocol (PDF) developed by the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy, […]
Read More ›Leaders Gather to Discuss the Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse at the 2014 National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
The 2014 National Rx Drug Abuse Summit will bring together clinical experts and governmental policymakers from across the country to focus on ways to make an impact in the fight against prescription drug abuse. The summit, featuring presentations, workshops, educational sessions, and breakout sessions on specific areas related to prescription drug abuse prevention, will take […]
Read More ›Bill Requiring Coverage of Partial Refills to Support Medication Synchronization Efforts Introduced in Missouri
Aimed to promote patient care, a Missouri bill would require that health benefit plans reimburse when pharmacies dispense less than a 30-day supply for the purpose of synchronizing a patient’s chronic medications. If passed, the bill (HR 2145) would apply to plans providing prescription drug coverage and would also require reimbursement when “the prescriber or […]
Read More ›Study Underscores Importance of Multifaceted Strategy to Reduce Opioid Overdoses
With the goal of helping to prevent prescription opiate overdoses while ensuring patients are treated appropriately for pain, a group of investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital recently analyzed factors that increased the risk of recurrent opioid overdoses requiring emergency department visits. The study identified several risk factors that were associated with repeat visits for overdoses […]
Read More ›Internet Drug Outlet Fraudulently Claiming NABP Accreditation
Recently, NABP discovered that the Internet drug outlet, WellnessFitnessNutrition, LLP (WFN), was fraudulently claiming to hold certain NABP certifications. Along with text claiming that the site was NABP certified, WFN posted a letter on its website that falsely claimed that WFN and its affiliate, “Dr Hector R. Rodriguez,” were certified to practice pharmacy pursuant to […]
Read More ›US Attorney General Urges Increase in Accessibility of Naloxone
US Attorney General Eric Holder called the rise in overdose deaths from prescription painkillers and heroin an “urgent public health crisis” and advocated for increased access to and training for the overdose-reversal drug, naloxone, for first responders and law enforcement agencies in a video message on the Department of Justice website. “The transition to – […]
Read More ›Prescribers Can Play Important Role in Reducing Painkiller Overdose, CDC Reports
People who frequently abuse opiate painkillers are often at the highest risk of overdosing, and are also likely to obtain the drugs through multiple prescriptions and multiple doctors, a practice known as “doctor shopping,” reports a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. Published in the most recent edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, the […]
Read More ›DEA Announces Temporary Scheduling of 10 Synthetic Cathinones
The administrator of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a final order to temporarily schedule 10 synthetic cathinones into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act effective as of March 7, 2014. The 10 substances are: 4-methyl-N-ethylcathinone (“4-MEC”); 4-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (“4-MePPP”); alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (“α-PVP”); 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)butan-1-one (“butylone”); 2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpentan-1-one (“pentedrone”); 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)pentan-1-one (“pentylone”); 4-fluoro-N-methylcathinone (“4-FMC”); 3-fluoro-N-methylcathinone (“3-FMC”); 1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)pentan-1-one (“naphyrone”); and […]
Read More ›Congressional Hearing Examines Efforts to Prevent Counterfeit Drugs in US Supply Chain, Testimony Highlights Role of NABP Programs
At a Congressional hearing on counterfeit drugs and the security of the drug supply chain, expert witnesses highlighted NABP programs that help to ensure patients receive safe medications. The meeting, held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on February 27, 2014, included testimony from the Government Accountability Office (PDF) that cited the .pharmacy generic […]
Read More ›FDA Develops Drug Supply Chain Security Act Implementation Plan
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a 10-year plan for implementation of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. The plan includes implementation time frames for actions including developing regulations to establish standards for licensing wholesale drug distributors and establishing a system for wholesale drug distributor reporting to FDA and a public database with licensing […]
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