Drug abuse

FIP sets out how pharmacists can help cut harm from drugs of abuse

The International Pharmaceutical Federation has called for pharmacy organisations to engage with policymakers and health authorities to ensure more pharmacist involvement in drug harm reduction services…

Charity warns that ‘legal high’ ban has led to switch to other illegal drugs

The Government’s blanket ban on so-called ‘legal highs’ has prompted a rise in the use of class A drugs, a drug charity that is partly funded by the Scottish Government has warned.…

Over-simplistic view of the opioid substitution service

I read with disappointment the letter by Wai Sin Kung calling for opioid substitution services to be scrapped ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2017;299:40). The views expressed were unfounded and simplistic. The opioid substitution service does indeed help some users to stop abusing drugs, b…

Why women who misuse drugs have different needs

Two editorials published in The Lancet and Addiction highlight how little is known about women and drugs, pointing to a blind spot in our collective knowledge…

Government rejects drug consumption clinics

The government has rejected recommendations by its advisers on dangerous and harmful drugs that drug consumption clinics could be introduced…

Pharmacists can play major role in drug strategy

Despite their absence from the government’s new drug strategy, pharmacists can still play a major role in helping to tackle the abuse of drugs, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said.…

Pharmacists have a vital role to play in tackling misuse of prescription drugs by young people

As more young people turn from street drugs to prescription drugs for recreation or to enhance academic performance, pharmacists need to increase their vigilance when supplying medicines, either on prescription or over the counter, and be aware of medicines’ potential to end up on the black ma…

Fentanyl-contaminated heroin: healthcare professionals alerted to risk of fatal overdose

Public Health England has asked those who may be in contact with heroin users to be aware of the increased risk from ‘cut’ supplies of heroin.…

An examination of how the prescription painkiller addiction epidemic exploded

Drug dealer, MD, by Anna Lembke…

Scrap the opioid substitution service

I am a locum pharmacist who has worked in pharmacies in various regions of England. In many of the pharmacies I work in, I dispense methadone or buprenorphine to substance misusers and also provide clean needle packs as requested. It is disturbing for me to see drug misusers collect their methadone …