The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy announced a major outreach initiative aimed at training pharmacists across the state for the prescription use of naloxone, a medication used for the treatment of suspected opioid overdose. Recent legislation now allows pharmacists, acting under a physician-approved protocol, to fill naloxone orders in their communities without an individual physician’s prescription.
To facilitate getting this life-saving product out in Kentucky communities, the Advancing Pharmacy Practice in Kentucky Coalition – an organization comprised of Kentucky’s pharmacy thought leaders – developed training programs and protocols around naloxone usage for pharmacists across the state. The Coalition is offering this special training during a statewide tour through October and November.
“This is game-changing legislation for public health in Kentucky,” said Trish Freeman, director of the UK College of Pharmacy’s Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice. “The coalition recognized that and worked hard to bring the necessary resources together to ensure Kentucky pharmacists had the proper training to make sure they could fill this important need in our communities.”
Last year, more than 1,000 Kentuckians died from an overdose. Increasing access to naloxone through the new legislation, coupled with the ease of use in the nasal spray device, has the potential to make a difference in the overdose death rate.
“This project is a great example of pharmacists putting patients first,” said professor and researcher Dan Wermeling, who previously developed a nasal spray version of naloxone through his startup company AntiOp Inc. “This college began its work in naloxone because we saw how opioid overdose was wreaking havoc on Kentucky communities. We approached this as a public health problem, and we sought to leverage the resources and capacity we have at the College to help save lives right here in the Commonwealth. I am proud that our work is starting to pay dividends, and I am proud that Kentucky pharmacists are leading the way.”
Currently, approximately 300 Kentucky pharmacists have already received training on the new naloxone prescription guidelines and protocols from the Coalition. Upon completion of the upcoming tour, Freeman estimates that 500 pharmacists will have undergone this special training, vastly improving access to naloxone throughout the state.
“Opioid overdose is a problem affecting families and communities in every corner of our commonwealth,” said Kelly M. Smith, interim dean of the UK College of Pharmacy. “Through our educational and research efforts, we are making a real impact on lives across this state. I applaud Drs. Wermeling, Freeman and our pharmacy partners in Kentucky who have joined us in this effort.”
In addition to the UK College of Pharmacy and CAPP, the Advancing Pharmacy Practice in Kentucky Coalition partners include the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Pharmacy Services Corporation, and the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy.
The Coalition’s statewide tour began on Oct. 6 at the METS Center in Erlanger. The tour will make its way to the following cites on these dates:
Oct. 27 – Owensboro
Oct. 29 – Lexington
Nov. 3 – Pikeville
Nov. 12 – London/Corbin
Nov. 19 – Louisville
In addition to the statewide tour dates, the coalition has worked to ensure naloxone certification clinical education modules are also being offered on the programs at the following statewide meetings/events:
Oct. 11 – Jefferson County Academy of Pharmacy, 2015 Fall Seminar, Sullivan University, Louisville
Oct. 23 – UK College of Pharmacy and Sullivan University College of Pharmacy Preceptors Meeting, College of Pharmacy, Lexington
Nov. 14 – Kentucky Pharmacists Association Legislative Conference, Hyatt Regency, Lexington
From UKNow