ASHP meets with White House officials on opioid addicition

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) had representatives at a White House meeting regarding opioid abuse this week.

Representing the ASHP,  Director of Medication Safety and Quality Deborah Pasko met with officials during a meeting regarding a budgetary request of $1.1 billion to address a gap in treatment.

The ASHP stands by the use of evidence-based doses of opioids that are used to manage pain. The organization is working with the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to develop educational materials to support opioid abuse prevention.

“Pharmacists can play a major role in solving the epidemic of opioid abuse and misuse, including helping to break the cycle of continuously increased opioid dosing and potency while ensuring that patients receive appropriate pain management,” ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz said. “We applaud the Office of National Drug Control Policy on its efforts and look forward to our continued partnership.”

This meeting was the first  of a series that is focused on expanding accessibility to treatment, prevention and other resources. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that opioid addiction and abuse has reached epidemic levels and overdoses of opioid medication and heroin are listed as the most common injury-related cause of death.