Pharmacy Focus Pharmacy Times

On this episode of Pharmacy Focus, experts discuss World Psychedelics Day, which is June 20. Experts will also discuss goals of World Psychedelics Day in increasing awareness and appreciation of psychedelics' therapeutic potential while honoring traditional knowledge. Experts cover the history of psychedelics, current research on psychedelic therapies for conditions like PTSD and depression, and future directions. Proper education, screening, medication management and harm reduction practices are highlighted as best ways that pharmacists can get involved.

Guests Include:
Mark Achbar, WPD Founder
Sarah Butterfield, WPD Creative Director
Rev. Shannon Smadella, WPD Operations & Partnerships Director
Sandra Dreisbach, PhD, WPD Ethics Director
Dennis Mckenna, Director and President of the Mckenna Academy
Kevin Lanzo, PharmD, co-founder of the Psychedelic Pharmacists Association (PPA)
Kristin Speer, PharmD, BCPS, co-founder of the PPA

References
1. Pharmacy Times. Survey Shows 65% of Affected Americans Want Access to Psychedelic Treatments for Mental Health Conditions. February 8. 2022. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/survey-shows-65-of-affected-americans-want-access-to-psychedelic-treatments-for-mental-health-conditions
2. Gallagher A. Psychedelic Medicine Could Fill Care Gap in Psychiatric Care. Pharmacy Times. April 10, 2024. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/psychedelic-medicine-could-fill-care-gap-in-psychiatric-care
3. Gallagher A. Is 2024 the Year for Psychedelic Medicine?. Pharmacy Times. April 4, 2024. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/is-2024-the-year-for-psychedelic-medicine-
4. Antrim A. FDA Advisory Panel Rejects MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD. Pharmacy Times. June 4, 2024. Accessed June 13, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-advisory-panel-rejects-mdma-assisted-therapy-for-ptsd

This episode of Pharmacy Focus discusses the important role pharmacists can play in promoting mental health care for patients. Molly McGraw, PharmD, BCPS, coordinator of Pharmacy Quality UPMC Health Plan and Kim Castelnovo, RPh, Pharmacy Manager at Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, talk about the importance of mental health care for patients, how pharmacists can educate patients on their mental health medications, and implement clinical programs to optimize care. They also discuss challenges with medication adherence and how pharmacists can collaborate with other health care professionals to provide holistic care.

In this special Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention month episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Emma White, the founder and president of the nonprofit organization Life Is Worth It, who shares her struggles with mental health as a teenager, and how she used her experience to educate others and give back to her community. White is also the Statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Nevada’s Department of Education and works under the Office of Suicide Prevention managing Project AWARE, a SAMHSA grant.

Key Takeaways:




Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention: Emma White, founder of The Life Is Worth It Organization, emphasizes the importance of addressing all dimensions of wellness—physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial—in suicide prevention. Her organization focuses on upstream prevention education, aiming to provide youth with tools and resources to manage their overall well-being to reduce the risk of suicide.

Personal Journey and Advocacy: White shares her personal story of surviving a suicide attempt at 15 years of age, emphasizing the lack of mental health education and support that she experienced during her crisis. Her journey from a survivor to an advocate showcases the importance of therapy, community support, and the normalization of discussing mental health struggles. White’s work with the state of Nevada and her professional speaking engagements aim to break the stigma and provide vital education on mental health.
 Breaking Stereotypes and Encouraging Vulnerability: Both White and Dr. Madison discuss the societal misconceptions about who can struggle with mental health issues, and they challenge stereotypes by sharing their experiences of being high-achieving individuals who have also faced mental health challenges. This conversation stresses the need for open discussions about mental health across all communities and the importance of seeking help without shame or stigma.



Emma White can be found on LinkedIn, Instagram (@emmamwhite) and Facebook (Emma White). Her TED Talk can be viewed here.

More information on the nonprofit organization Life Is Worth It can be found on the website and on social media:




Website: www.lifeisworthit.org


Instagram: @lifeisworthitorg


Facebook: @LifeIsWorthItOrg

Email: lifeisworthitorg@gmail.com

Pharmacists from Mayo Clinic recap some of the latest treatment opportunities to advance patient care in the oncology space. 

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Kate Gainer, PharmD, CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) to discuss the significance of state pharmacy associations in advocating for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, advancing public health initiatives, as well as shaping legislative priorities. Dr. Gainer also walks through her journey into pharmacy advocacy, emphasizes the importance of engagement in legislative advocacy.

Key Takeaways:






Importance of State Pharmacy Associations: The episode underscores the critical role of state pharmacy associations in advocating for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, supporting legislative initiatives, and facilitating collaborations with public health departments. State associations also serve as a bridge between pharmacists and policymakers, and have the ability to provide pharmacists opportunities for involvement and advocacy at the state level.

Advocacy and Legislative Initiatives: Dr. Kate Gainer highlights the ongoing advocacy efforts and legislative initiatives pursued by state pharmacy associations. These initiatives include updating pharmacy practice acts, advocating for payment reform to support pharmacists' expanded roles, and collaborating with legislators to advance policies that benefit the pharmacy profession and patient care.

Professional Development and Engagement: The conversation emphasizes the importance of professional development and engagement for pharmacists, encouraging them to get involved in their state pharmacy associations. Dr. Gainer shares her own journey into association leadership, emphasizing that it's never too late to get involved and make a difference, and that by engaging in advocacy, networking, and professional growth opportunities, pharmacists can contribute to positive change within the profession and the health care system.


Connect with Dr. Kate Gainer on LinkedIn.

On this episode, Amie Stephens, PharmD, director of adherence improvement and client services at Rite Aid, Emilee Kennelly, PharmD, manager of adherence improvement and clinical initiatives at Rite Aid, and Max Baire, PharmD, manager of clinical health plan solutions at Rite Aid, discuss social determinants of health (SDOH) and how they can impact patient outcomes and medication adherence. The guests explained how SDOH, like transportation barriers, food insecurity, and language barriers, can prevent patients from taking their medications properly if not addressed.