Developing Pharmacy Technician Knowledge of Opioid Use Disorder: Reducing Stigma in the Face of COVID-19 Crisis

The opioid epidemic is an ongoing national public health crisis, and care for patients with opioid use disorder has been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, community pharmacies have the opportunity to serve as critical access points for these patients by providing naloxone and clean drug use supplies, along other harm reduction initiatives. Additionally, since pharmacy technicians frequently serve as the first contact between a patient and the pharmacy staff, information on inclusive communication strategies will be presented.

This program was developed by the Oregon State Pharmacy Association through a grant provided the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) for projects aimed at promoting medication safety and advancing the role of pharmacy technicians.

Oregon State Pharmacy Association

The Oregon State Pharmacy Association (OSPA) was founded in 1889 as a professional trade association representing its member community of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students and others who have an interest in advancing the practice of pharmacy through advocacy and education, and thereby improving the health of our fellow Oregonians.

OSPA represents pharmacy professionals statewide before the State Legislature, state agencies, Congress and with other health care stakeholders. OSPA provides a wide range of services, including excellent continuing education opportunities and advanced practice programs.

A very important aspect of our mission is to provide pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with information on the latest developments and trends that affect the profession, both locally and nationally.

If you are a member, thank you for your support of the association. If you are not a member, we would welcome you to join and become one of the integral components that make this association successful – our MEMBERS! An annual membership for a pharmacy technician is only $25.

To learn more about OSPA, please visit our website at oregonpharmacy.org or contact us at info@oregonpharmacy.org.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Information:

This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education through the sponsorship of OSU College of Pharmacy. The OSU College of Pharmacy is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Upon completion of this activity, participants will receive a Statement of Completion, and a Statement of Credit shall be uploaded to CPE Monitor. Completion requires 1) Registration for the course 2) Completion of all modules 3) Passing a final exam with 80% or higher and 4) Completion of the program evaluation.

At the completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
1) Describe how the opioid epidemic has evolved in Oregon and the United States
2) Identify the benefits of a harm reduction approach
3) List examples of harm reduction strategies
4) Recognize "people first" or "person first" language
5) Recall stigmatizing terms often associated with substance use disorder and identify supportive term alternatives

Technician UAN: 0036-0000-21-099-H08-T
Target Audience: Pharmacy Technicians licensed in Oregon
Activity Type: Knowledge
Activity Topic: Pain Management
Activity Release Date: 08/30/2021
Activity Expiration Date: 08/30/2024
Faculty/Contributors: Adriane Irwin, MS, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, Associate Clinical Professory, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy
Disclosures: 
This course was funded by a grant from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) for projects aimed at promoting medication safety and advancing the role of pharmacy technicians. The grant funds are also being used to provide 200 pharmacy technicians with ACPE accredited continuing education credit. For more information, please contact OSPA at info@oregonpharmacy.com
Dr. Adriane Irwin has been involved in developing and implementing educational programs to improve opioid safety in community pharmacies. This includes work as a key personnel for educational toolkit funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (R18HS024227A; PI: Hartung) and a co-investigator on enhanced version funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (RESPOND to PREVENT; R01 DA045745; PI: Green). Dr. Irwin was President of the Oregon State Pharmacy Association when the funds to develop this educational program on opioid safety were awarded by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
All financial conflicts were mitigated prior to release of this activity.
None of the other contributors, designers, or reviewers for this activity have any financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.