According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17 million U.S. adults experienced both mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2020. In 2019 alone, there were 49,860 cases of opioid-related deaths. Guiding patients with substance use disorder toward the path to recovery—as well as preventing addiction rates from growing—requires substantial effort, especially given the stigma surrounding addiction. But addiction is a disease, not a behavior. And it’s a disease pharmacists can help fight.
The SCPhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders explores the pharmacist and technician’s role in addressing and preventing addiction in a healthy way. In its inaugural offering of the institute, SCPhA recruited top experts in the nation to uncover addiction, decrease the stigma associated with addiction, emphasize soft skills, and manage difficult conversations. From recommending holistic approaches to cultivating an empathetic culture toward addiction, the education that participants receive here will equip them to provide effective and top of the line care for the patients in their community.
Photos from our past Institutes!
