Earlier this year in Kentucky, Senate Bill 192 authorized pharmacists to initiate the dispensing of naloxone under a physician-approved protocol. After completing a required CE training session and applying for certification with the board of pharmacy, pharmacists in Kentucky have an opportunity to increase access to this lifesaving medication. Over 500 pharmacists in Kentucky have been trained so far, and over 200 have been certified by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy to dispense naloxone.
Substance abuse and misuse is a common problem I have seen in my practice. I’m glad that our profession has received this newly expanded ability to help patients and families cope with this problem. Increasing access to those in the community who are directly affected or are likely to be bystanders will hopefully allow for a quicker response until a higher level of care can be provided. It will be exciting to see how different pharmacists implement this new ability to dispense naloxone across the wide variety of practice sites in our state. If you work in a site where you dispense naloxone, what advice can you share with others planning to offer this service?
As we move toward provider status, more opportunities to impact public health continue to arise. From immunizations to naloxone, the chances to improve or maintain the health of patients are ever-present and growing. It certainly is an exciting time to be a new practitioner! What advancements in practice are you most excited about?