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Medical Marijuana and its Positive Possibilities for Pharmacy
The case for legalising marijuana for medical purposes has been tested – and has been won (Victoria has set in motion the regulatory arrangements for this to happen in their state-others will follow). Now it’s the turn of the regulators who have the problem of separating legal use from illegal use. As more research is…
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US Increases Naloxone Access to Combat Opioid Overdose Epidemic
In response to the increase in opioid overdose-related deaths, United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced the agency’s plan to increase access to naloxone in rural communities and expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Burwell announced the plan at a conference including representatives from the 50 states and Washington, DC,…
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The Power of One
I came across a story regarding a police initiative to combat the escalating prescription opioid abuse that is affecting communities in the US (and Australia) and which is causing family destruction and tying up unnecessary police resources at a very high cost for government. The story is really quite inspirational and may have application within Australia,…
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Choice gives us the tick of approval
I guess we have arrived at last! Our professional expertise has been approved by Choice magazine – a publication which has been fairly critical of us over the years. Even made the front page of some pharmacy newsletters. But hold on………the tick of approval has nothing to do with our professional expertise, our role in…
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NPS Media Release 1. Accidental Fentanyl Exposure
ACCIDENTAL FENTANYL EXPOSURE IN CHILDREN CAN BE FATAL 3 March 2015 Infants and children are at a higher risk of accidental exposure to fentanyl patches—adhesive patches used to deliver higher doses of some opiates through the skin to relieve chronic pain. Fentanyl prescribing in Australia has increased over the last decade, and so has accidental…
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NPS Media Releases 1. Pain Relief Overuse 2. Taking Medicines as Prescribed
OVERUSE OF PAIN RELIEVERS POSES A SAFETY RISK FOR AUSTRALIANS 17 OCTOBER 2014 – On the final day of Be Medicinewise Week 2014, NPS MedicineWise is reminding people that excess consumption of common pain relievers is a serious medicine safety issue. A recent poll* on behalf of NPS MedicineWise suggests that many Australians have exceeded the maximum daily dose…