Drug Topics - November 19, 2007 - (Page 16)

16 DRUG TOPICS NOVEMBER 19, 2007 www.drugtopics.com Cover Story who go through recovery successfully return to the range Few pharmacist recovery profession. Estimates90%, as high as 85% to no hard networks receive funding though there arequestion. data on the “Pharmacists do better from licensing fees. than any other healthcare profession,” Norton said. Like other experts, he attributes most of the success to the work of PRNs. Some pharmacists come voluntarily to a PRN, but most are referred by the state board of pharmacy. While all are evaluated individually to determine the path to recovery, most will sign a long-term “contract” that outlines precisely the patient’s responsibilities during recovery. “If you can monitor a person for five years and have a presence on their shoulder, the chances of that person staying sober are dramatically increased,” observed Fingerson. Recovery contracts cover everything, including whether the patient will undergo inpatient or outpatient treatment, how long the treatment will last, the frequency of attendance at meetings, the frequency of drug tests, and other details. In nearly every case, the contracts stipulate that the pharmacist voluntarily relinquish his or her license and immediately stop working as a pharmacist. The contracts typically last five years, though in many cases, recovering pharmacists may petition to regain their license before the end of the period. Most pharmacists will start with an intensive detoxification program. Inpatient programs can range from a week to 90 days, depending on the severity of the addiction and the drug. Other contracts may recommend outpatient programs. Some pharmacists may live in a halfway house with other recovering addicts while undergoing the outpatient treatment. In almost all cases, this early treatDT CAPSULE ment makes continued work in a pharmacy setting impossible. Residential treatment may continue for as long as six months after the initial detox. The biggest challenge is helping pharmacists reenter the pharmacy. “The most successful programs have a means to get people back into the pharmacy,” Norton explained. “Ninety-five percent will require residential treatment to learn how to manage their disease without the drug and how to face the drug when they walk back into work.” Getting on board One of the reasons PRNs tend to be so successful in getting pharmacists through recovery is their cooperative relationship with pharmacy boards. Boards are increasingly willing to suspend the impaired pharmacist’s license while he or she undergoes treatment, with the threat that a relapse may trigger a permanent ban. In this cooperative model, PRNs monitor treatment and ensure the patient is progressing. “The rehab approach relies on the board as the holder of the sword,” said Tommasello. Pharmacy boards are so willing to work with PRNs because they speed up the process of removing impaired pharmacists from behind the counter. While board investigations and hearings can take weeks or months to complete, PRNs successfully remove pharmacists quickly from practice and start them on the path to recovery. “We are all working for the same purpose,” said Ohio’s Quigley. “We want to get anyone who is impaired out of the pharmacy until he or she is fit to practice again.” “When pharmacists enter the PRN program, they are immediately monitored well in advance of anything the board could do,” confirmed Virginia Herold, executive director of the California State Board of Pharmacy. “Public safety is improved because it is so quick.” That cooperation is critical to the successful rehabilitation of impaired pharmacists. North Carolina’s pharmacy board and its PRN have worked together for the past 15 years and North Carolina’s PRN is one of the few nationwide to receive direct funding from pharmacy license fees collected by the board. “Historically it has worked very well for us,” explained Jay Campbell, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Finances play a large part of that trust. “I don’t think you can build a relationship unless you trust that the organization has the resources to do the job,” continued Campbell. “If you are serious about having a recovery program, then you have to be serious about providing revenue.” The North Carolina board provides $130,000 a year to the PRN to underwrite its operating expenses. In addition, a member of the pharmacy board also sits on the PRN board, which provides regular updates, financial statements, and audit results to the board. Where to go for help harmacists face particular challenges when it comes to substance abuse. Fortunately, there are several resources available on-line for addicted pharmacists and pharmacists interested in substance abuse treatment. Here are a few: www.usaprn.org: This Web site is a compendium of resources as well as a virtual community center for addicted pharmacists and for those focused on treatment. It also has up-to-date information on each state pharmacy recovery network. http://uuhsc.utah.edu/uas: The University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies offers a week long summer curriculum aimed at pharmacists and other professionals focused on substance abuse treatment. www.nida.nih.gov: The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides updates on recent research, information about abused drugs, and other resources. P http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.usaprn.org http://uuhsc.utah.edu/uas http://www.nida.nih.gov

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - November 19, 2007

Drug Topics - November 19, 2007 Contents Latebreakers Letters Leukemia Patients Now Have More Options First-in-Class HIV Drug Boon to Patients at End of Tether 150 Years of American Pharmacy Pharmacy Schools Confront New Pressures From Pariah to Patient ACCP Releases Position Paper on Ethical Interactions New Injectable Antibiotic Welcomed with Open Arms NCCN Updates Head and Neck Cancer Guide Improved Phosphate Binder Approved for Dialysis Patients Considering Combination Concern Ensuring Seamless Care Bill Would Create Center for Comparative Effectiveness Hospital Improves Patient Safety with Automatic Drug Distribution System Infection Rates, Patient Stays Drop with New Drug Device How R.Ph.s Helped Three Hospitals Win Quality and Safety Awards A Pharmacist and Dog in Tow are Alzheimer’s Patients’ Best Friends More PBMs Agreeing to Pricing Transparency New Insulins in the Management of Diabetes New Products Advertisers Index Classified VIEWPOINT: Reflections on Pharmacy School After 30 Years

Drug Topics - November 19, 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.