The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7219 p514
12 October 2002

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Pharmacists can help drug misusers benefit from integrated care

The role of community and hospital pharmacists in the integrated care of drug misusers has been highlighted in a new Scottish Executive report.

The report, entitled "Integrated care for drug users: principles and practice", says pharmacists can and do provide a whole range of services to drug misusers. These include needle exchange, dispensing and supervision of methadone, dispensing other medicines used in the treatment of drug misuse and referring people to the appropriate agencies. In addition, they can advise on safe handling and storage of medicines and promote safe sex and a healthy lifestyle.

The report, which was launched by Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm last week, aims to improve the assessment of drug misusers' needs and their accessibility to services, as well as the co-ordination and planning of these services. It identifies areas where different parts of the health service and other agencies can work together in partnership to achieve better results. Mr Chisholm said he hoped the report would provide the basis for future collaborative working between all those involved in the care of drug misusers. He added: "The evidence in this document strongly suggests that a long-term and sustained recovery from drug misuse is more likely if other problems are tackled at the same time, not simply the drug misuse problem."

A web link to "Integrated care for drug users" can be found on the PJ Online links page.