Despite the majority of pharmacists reporting the reception of the Naloxone training, there were significant differences in training between independent pharmacists and pharmacists, according to a study published in Dependence on drugs and alcohol dependence.1 The main differences between the chain and independent pharmacists in naloxone training were the subjects covered, the types of training formats and the compulsory training.
“Opioid abuse remains a major public health crisis worldwide and the United States, with around 60 million people with the use of previous opioids worldwide. In the United States, 125 million orders were written in 2025 and nearly 107,000 overdose deaths per year,” wrote study authors. “This epidemic highlights the important role of American pharmacies, which are very accessible and positioned to engage directly with the communities.”
Among the multiple emergency events of public health, such as the COVVI -19 pandemic – pharmacists have established themselves as precious suppliers for communities across the country. Community pharmacies are the most accessible health care destination in the United States, as more than 90% of all Americans live 5 minutes by car.2
The main contrast between the type of location of the pharmacy was compulsory naloxone training required in chain pharmacies. | Image credit: Giovanni Cancemi / Stock.Adobe.com
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This study is only an example of increased pharmacies services provided in the middle of the opioid crisis underway in the United States. Since approval by the FDA of the over -the -counter Naloxone (Narcan)1 and the expansion of the prescription capacities of Buprenorphine of pharmacists,3 Pharmacists were only well placed as health care providers with increased capacities in the fight against the epidemic of opioids.
“Although many progress has been made in the role of the pharmacist in support of people with Opioid consumption disorders (OUD) in the past 2 decades, pharmacists must seek to invest time and resources in practices with a solid evidence to better reduce the study published in an increasing and devastating impact of the opioid crisis,” Crush impact and devastat Drug addiction and rehabilitation.4
But despite the expansion of the pharmacy services and the prescription capacities of pharmacists, their knowledge of agents and the overturning overth approaches to fight against the opioid crisis are of the utmost importance. The researchers of this study focused on the education of pharmacists for the use of naloxone and the training that informed their knowledge of this vital therapy.1
More specifically, researchers wanted to better understand the knowledge of pharmacists according to the type of pharmacy in which they worked, either a chain pharmacy belonging to the company as CVS or a community pharmacy belonging to a single owner or in small group.
“A better understanding of the potential disparities in the Naloxone training landscape through the pharmacy can lead to the identification of opportunities for improving efforts to reduce damage to opioids led by pharmacists who can be exploited in future studies,” continued the study authors.1 “Consequently, this study aims to explore differences in training, policies, procedures and preferences in Naloxone between pharmacies belonging to companies and independent in Alabama.”
The researchers conducted an online survey with a total of 64 responses (37% women; 95% white; average age, 42 years old). Among these responses, the results they explored included internal and outsourced education / training subjects, Naloxone training preferences and perceived utility of naloxone sources of education. Respondents included a total of 42 (65.63%) channel pharmacists and 22 (34.38%) independent pharmacists.
In their comparison of independent and chain pharmacists, researchers discovered that Naloxone training was much more established in chain pharmacies belonging to companies. “Fewer pharmacists have received naloxone training, naloxone education mandated by employers and average subjects in naloxone education in independent chain pharmacies,” they wrote.1 “Most independent and channel pharmacies preferred naloxone training in an online self-study format.”
While most of the time, all respondents in the survey reported the reception of the Naloxone training, the main contrast between the type of location of the pharmacy was the compulsory training in Naloxone required in the pharmacies of the chain. Independent pharmacists were much less likely to receive compulsory naloxone training materials or training programs.
“This highlights a clear policy difference between chain and independent pharmacies,” they said.1 “This observation can affect the quality of naloxone education for patients, as studies have shown that compulsory training can improve the confidence of pharmacists and the desire to provide naloxone.”
With the question of the use of opioids and the disorder of consumption of substances in Alabama in particular, this study could be used to inform other states which seek to adopt policies which will fight against the epidemic of opioids in their respective competence. Future research could explore how naloxone training can reach more pharmacists, whether in a chain or independent pharmacy.
“The standardization of training protocols and the application of compulsory training before providing naloxone would potentially lead to a larger quantity of naloxone provided, as well as an understanding and in -depth satisfaction of patients with regard to the advice of Naloxone. Future efforts should focus on the implementation of standardized naloxone training protectors in Alabama authors.1
Find out more: Importance of communication in the initiation of buprenorphine | APHA 2025
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References
1. Blythe E, McCormick N, Woods S, et al. Naloxone training programs in Alabama community pharmacies belonging to companies: a transversal pilot survey. Alcohol drug depends on the representative. 2025 March 28; 15: 100326. DOI: 10.1016 / J.DADR.2025.100326.
2. Berenbrok la, tang s, gabriel n, et al. Access to community pharmacies: a transversal analysis of geographic information systems nationally. Japha. 2022; 62 (6): 1816-1822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2022.07.003
3. Adams JA, Chopski NL, Adams AJ. Opportunities for the post -sister pharmacist Authority of Buprenorphine following the adoption of the law on the treatment of drug addiction (MAT). Japha. 2025; 63 (5): 1495-1499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.06.001
4. Kosobuski L, O'Donnell C, Koh-Knox Sharp CP, et al. The role of the pharmacist in the fight against the opioid crisis: an update. Rehabilitation of drug addiction. 2022 December 28; 13: 127-138. DOI: 10.2147 / SAR.S351096.
