166549 Pseudoephedrine regulations: Do pharmacist believe it will reduce drug availability and use?, New York State 2007

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 8:50 AM

Jessica A. Nadeau , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Rachael Ruberto , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Scott Coley , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Christopher F. Davis , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Christopher Hill , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Robert A. Bednarczyk, MS , Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY, University at Albany, School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Louise-Anne McNutt, PhD , Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY
        
BACKGROUND: The most recent federal methamphetamine precursor regulation The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA 2005) regulates pseudoephedrine sales by moving products behind the counter (BTC), setting both daily and monthly purchase limits, and requiring retailers to record all sales. Some pharmacists have stated time constraints due to documentation may limit their role in infectious disease control efforts.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study asked pharmacists in 14 counties to complete a self-administered survey. Participants were asked to provide information on pseudoephedrine-containing products sold per week, time logging sales, and pharmacist opinions on the policy's effect on pseudoephedrine availability for methamphetamines development and use.

RESULTS: Of the 193 participants (response proportion 67.2%), a majority (76.8%) felt record keeping was unduly burdensome. A majority (67.1%) indicated dramatic decreases of sales, with 20 or fewer pseudoephedrine products sold per week, averaging between 30-38 minutes per week spent logging information. Most pharmacists felt the regulation had not reduced the production (40.0%) or availability (41.1%) of methamphetamines. Pharmacists' responses did not vary by urbancity of region.

DISCUSSION: The recent implementation of CMEA 2005 in September 2006 may relate to pharmacists attitudes on the effectiveness and burden of BTC pseudoephedrine sales, however the true time burden is not as high as originally expected due to substantial drops in sales. With public health plans for pharmacists to spend more time in infectious disease control, research that provides estimates of time related to public health activities may be needed to assess cost and potential need for funding.

Learning Objectives:
- Identify the impact of regulation on actual methamphetamine production and drug abuse - Describe how infectious disease control recommendations for pharmacists need to be similarly evaluated - Identify cost implications of unfunded public health policies on pharmacies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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