Assessing attitudes toward community pharmacy services and a pharmacist's role in substance use treatment by those utilizing day center and harm reduction services.

BACKGROUND

People who inject drugs (PWID) often face significant barriers to health care, including stigma and mistrust. Pharmacists, as accessible health care providers, have the potential to bridge these gaps, yet the attitudes of PWID toward pharmacy services remain underexplored. Understanding these attitudes is essential for tailoring interventions that improve involvement in substance use treatment and health outcomes for this population.

OBJECTIVES

To capture the viewpoints of those that utilize day center services on the pharmacy profession and its role in substance use treatment.

METHODS

This prospective field study investigated the perceptions of those who used the services of a syringe services program and day center toward pharmacists. Past prescription and illicit drug use, attitudes toward pharmacy services, and disposal methods of medications were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 179 patients completed the voluntary survey, with 42% believing that a pharmacist could aid them with their substance use disorder. From the patients who completed the survey, 66% reported previous usage of an illicit substance, with methamphetamine (78%) and cocaine (62%) having the highest reported rates of use.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the framework for assessing patient preferences for expanding pharmacy services in an underserved clinical setting. Patients reported baseline trust in pharmacy services but reported that they do not believe a pharmacist could help them quit using illicit substances. Further studies are needed to fully quantify how pharmacists can fill the perceived needs and garner increased trust with PWID.