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NABP e-News: March 19, 2009
ACPE Cautions Boards Against Commercially Motivated Continuing Education
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) issued a letter on March 12, 2009, advising the state boards of pharmacy to disallow non-ACPE-approved continuing pharmacy education (CPE) that is commercial in nature for credit toward relicensure. The letter cites the Office of Inspector General Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (2003) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Standards for Commercial Support (2004) as resources for distinguishing appropriate CPE from programming presented for inappropriate marketing purposes.
Partnership Report Shows Continued Abuse of Prescription, OTC Drugs
A recent study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, “20th Annual Survey on Teen Drug Abuse,” indicates that 15% of 12th graders report abusing a prescription drug in the past year. In contrast to a reduction in the use of street drugs by teens in the same time period, the prevalence of abusing prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications has remained steady for several years, according to the report. While more parents are warning their teens against the use of street drugs, only 24% of teens report that their parents talked with them about the dangers of prescription drug abuse or use of medications outside of a doctor’s supervision, and only 18% of teens say their parents discuss the risks of abusing OTC cough medicine.
Dextromethorphan Distribution Act Reintroduced
United States Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) recently reintroduced the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act. The legislation would restrict the distribution of raw dextromethorphan, which has been the focus of teen drug abuse in the past, to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered entities. The legislation would ensure that only legitimate entities (such as scientists, researchers, or manufacturers) that are registered with FDA or a state agency can purchase raw, unfinished dextromethorphan. This is the third time this legislation has been introduced in the US Congress. It passed the US House of Representatives twice but failed to advance before the end of the 109th and 110th Congresses.
Seven Additional Facilities Awarded VAWD Accreditation
NABP recently accredited seven additional facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors®(VAWD®) program, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 318 as of March 18, 2009. A full listing of VAWD facilities is available under Accreditation Programs on the NABP Web site.
- Butler Animal Health Supply, LLC distributes prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and veterinary supplies to regional veterinarians and veterinary hospitals and clinics. The company received accreditation for its Albany, NY facility.
- Cardinal Health 200, Inc provides medical supplies, prescription drugs, and vaccines to hospitals, surgical centers, clinical laboratories, clinics, and practitioners’ offices. The company received accreditation for its Salt Lake City, UT facility.
- Cardinal Health 411, Inc distributes prescription drugs, OTC products, and other health items to independent and chain pharmacies, hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, and practitioners’ offices. The company received accreditation for its Denver, CO facility.
- Centric Health Resources, Inc primarily provides retail pharmacy and business services to patients with rare, orphan, and chronic disorders. The business provides one product (Prolastin) that requires VAWD accreditation under state law. The company received accreditation for its Chesterfield, MO facility.
- Clinical Supplies Management, Inc manages pharma-clinical process for clinical studies worldwide. The business offers unique, total project, and traditional clinical trial services. It also provides on-demand packaging and labeling. The company received accreditation for its Fargo, ND facility.
- DRx Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc repackages and relabels prescription and OTC products and then distributes them to practitioners, clinics, and pharmacies. The company received accreditation for its Lake Forest, IL facility.
- Global Pharmaceutical Sourcing specializes in the distribution of plasma derivatives (IVIG, coagulation factors, albumin), antibiotics, vaccines, respiratory products, and specialty injectables. The company received accreditation for its Rockville, MD facility.
