A five month study was undertaken to evaluate the role played by a clinically trained pharmacist on a polydrug detoxification unit. A total of 69 patients were included in the study. Four parameters were investigated in the evaluation. These sought to document the pharmacist's ability to: (1) evaluate degree of dependence; (2) develop, monitor and adjust detoxification protocols; (3) monitor and treat general medical needs; and (4) educate patients in the area of drug abuse. Based on the results of this investigation, it is concluded that a clinically trained pharmacist can be a beneficial addition to such a detoxification unit.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CovingtonT. R.PfeifferF. G.: The Pharmacist-Acquired Medication History, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.29: 692–695, 1972.
2.
LaVerdeS.: Evaluation of Drug History Program, Hospitals47: 106–111 (Aug. 1) 1973.
3.
McHaleM. K.CanadaA. T.: The Use of a Pharmacist in Obtaining Medication Histories, Drug Intell. Clin. Pharm.3: 115–119, 1969.
4.
WilsonR. S.RabatH. F.: Pharmacist Initiated Patient Drug Histories, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.28: 49–53, 1971.
5.
FranckeD. E.: The Expanding Role of the Hospital Pharmacist in Drug Information Services, Am J. Hosp. Pharm.22: 33–37, 1965.
6.
PellegrinoE. D.: Drug Information Services and the Clinician, Am J. Hosp. Pharm.22: 38–41, 1965.
7.
CooperC. R.: Techniques for the Selection and Monitoring of Patients by Pharmacists, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.29: 334–338, 1972.
8.
HullJ. H.EckelF. M.: Evaluation of the Pharmacist as a Drug Therapy Advisor on Ward Rounds, Am J. Hosp. Pharm.30: 687–694, 1973.
9.
AndersonP. O.TaryleD. A.: Pharmacist Management of Ambulatory Patients Using Standards of Care, Am J. Hosp. Pharm.31: 254–257, 1974.
10.
BrodieD. C.: Expanded Roles for Pharmacists, Am J. Pharm. Educ.37: 591–600 (Nov.) 1973.
11.
ColemanJ. H.III: Extended Clinical Roles for the Pharmacist in Psychiatric Care, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.30: 1143–1146, 1973.
12.
EllinoyB. J.: A Pharmacy Outpatient Monitoring Program Providing Primary Medical Care to Selected Patients, Am J. Hosp. Pharm.30: 593–598, 1973.
13.
EricsonA. J.ShainfieldF. J.: The Pharmacist in an Obstetrical Service, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm.30: 702–704, 1973.
14.
GriffinG. D.: The Pharmacist as Primary Provider of Health Care, Hosp. Pharm.9: 84–101, 1974.
15.
McKenneyJ. M.: The Effect of Clinical Pharmacy Services on Patients with Essential Hypertension, Circulation, 48: 1104–1111 (Nov.) 1973.
16.
SwansonL. N.: Pharmacy Involvement-Polydrug Detoxification Unit, Drug Intell. Clin. Pharm.9: 638–647, 1975.
17.
SmithD. E.WessonD. R.: Phenobarbital Technique of Barbiturate Detoxification, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry24: 56–60, 1971.
18.
WiklerA.: Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug Dependence of the Bariturate Type, Am. J. Psychiatry125: 758–765 (Dec.) 1968.
19.
JaffeJ. H.: Narcotic Analgesics, in The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, GoodmanL. S.GilmanA. (Eds.), 4th Ed., New York, MacMillan, pp. 237–275, 1970.
20.
AMA Council on Mental Health: Treatment of Morphine-Type Dependence by Withdrawal Methods, J. Am. Med. Assoc.219: 1611–1615 (Mar. 20) 1972.
21.
JacksonA. H.ShaderR. I.: Guidelines for the Withdrawal of Narcotic and General Depressant Drugs, Dis. Nerv. Syst: 162–166 (Mar.) 1973.
22.
KingmanA.: Biostatistics, Wayne State University, Dept. Community Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, (Personal Communication.).
