ASHP Attends White House Meeting on Efforts to Tackle Opioid Abuse

PRESS RELEASE

ASHP participated in a meeting yesterday with several senior White House officials to discuss the Obama Administration’s efforts to address the opioid overdose and misuse epidemic. The session, coordinated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is the first in a series of meetings with healthcare provider and patient advocacy groups that are working to expand access to opioid treatment, prevention, and recovery resources.

Deborah Pasko, Pharm.D., MHA, ASHP’s Director of Medication Safety and Quality, met with National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli, Office of Management and Budget Senior Advisor Michael Deich, Advisor to the Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian, and other senior White House officials to discuss the specifics of the Administration’s budget request for $1.1 billion to close the treatment gap for prescription drug and heroin abuse. The group will reconvene next month for further discussions.

“Pharmacists can play a major role in solving the epidemic of opioid abuse and misuse, including helping to break the cycle of continuously increased opioid dosing and potency while ensuring that patients receive appropriate pain management,” said ASHP Chief Executive Officer Paul W. Abramowitz, Pharm.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FASHP. “We applaud the Office of National Drug Control Policy on its efforts and look forward to our continued partnership.”

ASHP policy advocates for the use of evidence-based guidelines for opioid dosing. The organization is working with the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and other groups to develop interprofessional educational materials about access to opioids, diversion, and opioid abuse prevention.