A Pilot Project: Continuing Education for Pharmacists on Substance Abuse Prevention

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy advocates that pharmacists can have a significant impact on substance abuse prevention provided they receive adequate training. Continuing education programs are needed to enable practicing pharmacists to augment their limited education. This paper examines the process the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) used to develop a pilot continuing education program for pharmacists. With limited literature and a small number of pharmacy teaching about substance abuse, input on topics and training methods was obtained from a convenience sample of practicing pharmacists to enhance the information from the pharmacist faculty regarded as content experts. Results of this pilot study revealed lack of agreement between faculty and practicing pharmacists regarding the prioritizing of content and educational methods. Consequently, input must be obtained from targeted audiences instead of relying solely on the advice of identified academic content experts when designing continuing educational programs. Other professions should consider this process when designing continuing education programs. Pharmacists are poised to play an important role in the prevention of substance abuse problems, but they need continuing education about substance abuse.