American Pharmacists Association Collaborates With Walmart on Free Opioid Training for All US Pharmacists, Technicians

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and Walmart have announced a free online training program on opioid stewardship, available to all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the United States.

According to a press release, the customized program includes 6.5 hours of training and education, including a pain management curriculum. The resource is being launched at a time when data suggest a surge in opioid-related overdoses as access to social and treatment networks are disrupted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a press release.

The topics include Finding Grace: An Overview of Addiction and Recovery; Bridging the Gap Between Pain Management and Drug Diversion; Chronic Pain Management Best Practices and Clinical Pearls; Opioid Alternatives; The Roles and Risks of NSAIDs in Pain Management; Using Brief Interventions in a Busy Pharmacy Setting; and Naloxone: Understanding its Role and Use in the Community.

The training program, originally developed in 2018 for Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacists, is now available to all pharmacists and technicians due to an unrestricted educational grant provided to APhA by Walmart.

“All health care practitioners have a responsibility for identifying and preventing opioid misuse and abuse, and it will take the entire health care team working together to win the battle against the opioid epidemic,” Dan Zlott, PharmD, APhA senior vice president of education and business development, said in a statement. “Pharmacists are on the front lines and may often be the first to recognize opioid-related issues. That’s why we believe it is so important to arm them with knowledge about addiction, recovery, and treatment options; as well as the latest information about pain management approaches and alternatives to opioids.”

REFERENCE

APhA Collaborates with Walmart to Provide Free Comprehensive Opioids Training Program for All US Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Nationwide [news release]. American Pharmacists Association; August 10, 2020. https://www.pharmacist.com/press-release/apha-collaborates-walmart-provide-free-comprehensive-opioids-training-program-all-us. Accessed August 10, 2020.