Setting out a four-part science-based strategy for reducing illicit drug use, the White House 2014 National Drug Control Strategy (PDF) includes a focus on reducing heroin and prescription painkiller abuse and overdose, which have spiked dramatically in recent years. Released annually, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) strategy document serves as a national […]

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A legislative package of 11 bills targeting prescription drug and opioid abuse has been approved by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The series of bills includes “Good Samaritan” protections for individuals who administer an opioid antagonist like naloxone, the medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose. According to a press release from the […]

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released several policy documents related to compounding as part of the agency’s implementation of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA). The documents include: Draft interim guidance (PDF) describing FDA’s expectations for compliance with current good manufacturing practice requirements for compounding facilities registered as outsourcing facilities with FDA A […]

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As cases of measles and mumps rise in Ohio, Governor John Kasich signed an emergency order that allows pharmacists to administer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to patients age 18 or older. In order to administer MMR vaccines, pharmacists must meet training criteria required by rule 4729-5-36 of the Ohio Revised Code, and […]

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Aimed to help fight prescription drug abuse, proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would establish a comprehensive prescription monitoring program (PMP). Currently, the PMP overseen by the state’s attorney general monitors only Schedule II controlled substances (CS). SB 1180, sponsored by Senator Patricia Vance (R-31), would expand the program to include all Schedule II through V CS, […]

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A bill that would increase the number of pharmacy technicians a pharmacist may supervise has passed the Florida House of Representatives. CS/HB 323 (PDF) would require the Florida Board of Pharmacy to establish rules “under which a licensee who applies to the board for approval may supervise more than three, but not more than six registered […]

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After implementing stricter requirements for certain painkiller prescriptions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Massachusetts, the state’s largest private health insurer, has released the results of an “18-month checkup.” Among the findings, long-acting opioid claims were reduced by 50%, and short-acting opioid claims were reduced by 20%. The policies have helped to avoid excess […]

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To identify opportunities to better protect the public health by strengthening oversight of compounding practice and improving federal-state collaboration, an intergovernmental meeting was convened by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 20-21, 2014, in Silver Spring, MD. Participants at the meeting, including representatives from the boards of pharmacy, health departments, Centers for Disease Control […]

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As one of several planned changes to the certification program, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) has announced that certified pharmacy technicians are now required to complete one hour of continuing education (CE) in patient safety. This requirement is in addition to the already required hour of law CE, which must be part of the […]

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.Pharmacy gTLD and Consumer Education Key in Protecting Public Health The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) today issued a report stressing that illegal online drug sellers are the most frequent conduits of counterfeit drugs and pose a continued threat to global public health. As detailed in the Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress […]

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