The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7501 p567
10 May 2008

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• New professional body (2)
• Council election (2)
• Trimethoprim
• Restricted title
• Addiction
• Medicines use reviews
• English Pharmacy Board
• Epilepsy
• Euthanasia
• Public relations
• The Society

Letters to the Editor

Addiction

Refusal to supply may not benefit patients

From Mrs C. Barber, MRPharmS

It was with much trepidation that I read the “Substance misuse” guidance, which was recently updated by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. I contribute to a website that helps people with codeine addiction and I believe that this advice does nothing to help these people. Instead, it enforces the pharmacist’s professional responsibility to stop the sale, which, in my opinion, can cause more harm than good.

Some people are on a “taper” plan and may therefore need more than the recommended amount; some have not addressed the fact that they have a problem. These people will simply drive somewhere to obtain the quantities they need. Some have driven up to 100 miles in one day.

Some addicts have been to see their doctors and not been given the support they need. Some are too ashamed to tell their doctors. Many of these people are professional, many are women who started taking codeine after menstrual problems, or after child birth. Some have had sports injuries, or the problems have started after an operation.

This problem is still not fully recognised by pharmacists or doctors.

My code of ethics says that I must make the care of my patients my first concern. By refusing a sale, I do not believe that I am “caring” for that person. In my view, it would have better if the guidance had come out with advice to pharmacists about what to do and how to help the addict (being mindful that a referral to a GP may not be effective), rather than telling them not to supply.

Claire Barber
Wakefield

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