Board-certified psychiatric pharmacists in substance use disorder treatment: Integration, services, and outcomes...

At present, there is a shortage of clinicians providing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, thereby limiting access to evidence-based care. Board-certified psychiatric pharmacists (BCPPs) are doctorate-level, advance trained experts in psychopharmacology and psychiatric disorders, including SUDs.

This narrative review describes the contributions of BCPPs in SUD care and summarizes evidence demonstrating their impact across health care settings. It highlights their roles in comprehensive medication management, including the management of co-occurring psychiatric disorders, long-acting injectables, telehealth services, and transitions of care. Other key contributions include harm reduction services, education, and psychotropic stewardship.

Integration of BCPPs on teams providing SUD care can reduce other practitioners' workloads, expedite care, and increase access to life-saving pharmacologic intervention. BCPPs can optimize medication-related outcomes and safety and, with prescriptive authority, may prescribe controlled substances including buprenorphine. They are well-positioned to take on additional responsibilities in SUD care and have adopted successful treatment models across practice settings.

Evidence shows that BCPPs can improve the quality of SUD care. BCPPs should be regarded as essential members of interprofessional teams providing SUD treatment as their involvement can drive advancements in clinical practice and expand access to care for patients with SUDs.