Pharmacy Daily | Harm reduction a must

THE Harm Minimisation Stream at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP2023) continues to be relevant, with facilitator and community pharmacist, Angelo Pricolo, ready to unpack key topics with expert presenters.

Pricolo said "as we endeavour to practise to our full scope, the list of medicines we can inject in our pharmacy is expanding.

"Leading experts from around the country will cover a range of harm minimisation medicines and strategies to learn from.

"We are fortunate to again have two of our dedicated sponsors, Indivior and Camurus, assist in pulling together the program with a quality line-up of presenters from around the country."

The sessions' presenters include Dr Jacinta Johnson, University of South Australia's Advanced Practice Pharmacist, who will discuss one of the first non-vaccine injections and the current way it is administered in different jurisdictions in Australia.

Johnson will also update attendees on the use and availability of the different forms of naloxone and its relevance in conjunction with high-dose opioid pain medication and the risks involved with overdoses in this cohort.

Dr Jeremy Hayllar will present a session on alcohol and the drugs used to treat acute withdrawal, as well as those currently in use to minimise cravings.

Dr Susan Baidawi, a researcher and fellow pharmacist, will discuss criteria around Adverse Childhood Experiences.

This is a session not to be missed for its power and relevance to so many people treated regularly in pharmacies.

Dr Paul MacCartney, an Addiction Medicine Specialist, will unpack the societal issues faced with the increase in illicit fentanyl being circulated.

This trend has been realised in Canada and North America, and MacCartney wants to prepare a system for reducing risk in Australia.

The harm minimisation stream will be held from 4-5.30pm on Fri 24 Mar.

For further details about this and other program content at APP2023, visit HERE.