U.S. National Pharmacy Market Summary 2021

With pharmacies serving as an integral part of the healthcare landscape, it is critical to understand changes and trends and their impact on the business environment. This summary, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic, shares pertinent information about pharmacies, including number of store locations, pharmacists employed, ownership information, facility type, and the number of pharmacies per state.

Medication Sharing, Storage, and Disposal Practices for Opioid Medications Among US Adults

This study focusing on opioid medication practices revealed that many adults share their prescriptions, and a significant portion keeps leftover medications for future use. Safe storage, like locking medications away, is uncommon, and nearly half of the participants reported not receiving clear instructions on how to store or dispose of them properly. The findings highlight the need for better education and practices to reduce risks associated with sharing, improper storage, and disposal of opioid medications.

Pilot of a Brief, Web-Based Educational Intervention Targeting Safe Storage and Disposal of Prescription Opioids

At the time of this study, conducted in the early years of the opioid epidemic, a significant portion of misused opioids originated from authorized prescriptions. To help curb the epidemic, a brief, web-based educational tool was developed to address safe opioid use, storage, and disposal. Due to healthcare providers’ time constraints and other demands, this tool offers an efficient intervention option. The study demonstrated that such a web-based intervention could effectively improve patients’ knowledge and reduce misuse behaviors in healthcare settings.

Narcotics in the medicine cabinet: Provider talk is key to lower risk

There is a growing need and opportunity for providers to discuss appropriate disposal methods for leftover pain medications, as highlighted in this national study of parents with children receiving such prescriptions. Guidance on safe disposal could reduce the chances of parents keeping leftover prescriptions at home or using improper disposal methods. With half of caregivers reporting leftover medications and only one-third having received instructions on what to do with them, these findings also raise important questions about appropriate prescribing practices.

Behavioral Intervention and Disposal of Leftover Opioids: A Randomized Trial

Results from this study suggest that the prevalence of prescription opioid use among adolescents and young adults in the US is high despite known risks for future opioid and other drug use disorders. Reported prescription opioid misuse is common among adolescents and young adults and often associated with additional substance abuse, underscoring the importance of drug and alcohol screening programs in this population. Prevention and treatment efforts should take into account that greater than half of youths misusing prescription opioids obtain these medications through friends and relatives.

Behavioral Intervention and Disposal of Leftover Opioids: A Randomized Trial

Providing a medication disposal method and an educational intervention is more effective than providing a disposal method alone. This study found that delivering disposal methods and information about the risks of retaining medication at the time of opioid prescription effectively encouraged parents to dispose of their children’s leftover medication properly. This two-pronged intervention reduced parents’ intent to retain prescription opioid medication. Additional research is needed to further determine the long-term impact of such interventions on opioid misuse and adverse events.