Researchers surveyed 275 Maine pharmacists in the fall of 2014 about the extent that opioids affect their practice.
Although 85.9 percent of surveyed pharmacists said opioid misuse is a concern, and 75.3 percent said they have a favorable opinion of Maine’s prescription monitoring program, only 56.2 percent reported using the M-PMP.
Analysis of the surveys find pharmacists with a PharmD had a more favorable rating of and were more likely to use the M-PMP than pharmacists with bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, pharmacists working in a hospital setting were less likely to use the M-PMP than those in a retail environment.
“Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP,” the study authors conclude. “Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP…are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine.”
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