Community pharmacy attitudes and behaviors following a buprenorphine best practices dissemination

Opioid overdose deaths continue to rise despite available safe and efficacious treatments for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine. Whereas provider-level access to buprenorphine has improved, community pharmacy-level barriers remain, related to patient stigma and regulatory concerns. Education programs improve pharmacist comfort in dispensing naloxone. Because naloxone education improves naloxone dispensing comfort, buprenorphine education may improve stocking and dispensing of buprenorphine.

An evidence-based, best practices continuing education (CE) program about buprenorphine, including regulatory agency truths, was delivered to an audience of community pharmacists. To develop this CE program, interviews were conducted with key regulatory stakeholders including the Drug Enforcement Agency, board of pharmacy, and pharmaceutical distributors. Community pharmacist attendees completed a postsession anonymous survey on their knowledge about and comfort level toward buprenorphine following this CE program. Represented community pharmacies were contacted by phone approximately 1 month following this session to determine the immediate availability of buprenorphine and naloxone products.

At least 75% of pharmacists reported feeling knowledgeable and comfortable about buprenorphine and its related regulations following an evidence-based CE program though buprenorphine was immediately available in only 25% of represented community pharmacies when contacted 1 month following the educational session.

There are additional needs outside of pharmacist education to support consistent and timely buprenorphine access. Policy adjustments and board of pharmacy support may assist in improving timely and consistent buprenorphine access.