In recognition of October being American Pharmacists Month (APhM), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is hosting a lunch briefing at the Capitol Visitors Center at noon on Wednesday, October 17, to educate Members of Congress and legislative staff on various ways and the availability of pharmacists to help patients and address the opioid epidemic. This aligns with the APhM theme and central message that pharmacists are “Easy to Reach and Ready to Help.”

Communities throughout the country continue to face devastation due to prescription and illicit opioid abuse, misuse, addiction, and overdose. As the most accessible member of the health care team, pharmacists are medication experts who are often underutilized in pain management and treatment of substance use disorders.

Pharmacists screen and assess patients’ risk for misuse and abuse, provide interventions and care coordination, and furnish naloxone where authorized.

“Many legislators only recognize pharmacists as the member of the health care team who dispenses medication, but it’s important that they are informed about the other services pharmacists are able to provide related to prevention and treatment efforts,” said APhA CEO Thomas Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA.

During the briefing, pharmacists Tana N. Kaefer, PharmD, Anita Jacobson, PharmD, and Bethany A. DiPaula, PharmD, BCPP, will discuss their medication expertise and how pharmacists are equipped to help manage pain treatments, including educating patients and families about the safe use of opioids as well as the potential need for and appropriate use of naloxone.

“Research has demonstrated the value of pharmacists in positively impacting patients with chronic pain,” Menighan noted.

Please join us for the lunch briefing to learn more about what pharmacists are doing and how they can be better utilized to help patients in pain or in need of substance use treatment.