DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Collection Site Locator Now Available

April 9, 2014 5:30 PM

Written by: NABP National Association of  Boards of Pharmacy

Now available online, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collection site locator allows consumers to search for a nearby location to dispose of unneeded medications on Saturday, April 26, 2014. On this day, from 10 am to 2 pm, thousands of DEA-coordinated collection sites will be available across the country, and consumers are encouraged to use this opportunity to safely and legally dispose of any unneeded pills, including prescription pain pills and other controlled substance medications, as these pills can only be accepted for disposal when law enforcement is present.

DEA reminds consumers that the take-back service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. Sites will accept tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of unwanted medication. Personal information may be blacked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events. Check the DEA collection site locator often, as new locations will be added until April 26, 2014.

Consumers have disposed of over 3.4 million pounds of unwanted medication during previous DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days. During the seventh DEA take-back event on October 26, 2013, more than 5,500 locations provided take-back services across all 50 states and US territories. More information and a link to the DEA Take-Back Day collection site locator is available on theAWARxE® website.

Things My Mother Never Told Me About Pharmacy

Pharmacist-Statesman Returns to UH April 9

The Honorable Charles L. “Chuck” Hopson, R.Ph., to Present 2014 Phi Lambda Sigma James McCarty Leadership Lecture

The Honorable Charles L. “Chuck” Hopson, R.Ph., will serve as the 2014 Phi Lambda Sigma James T. McCarty Leadership Lecturer on Wednesday, April 9, at the University of Houston. Hopson’s lecture, entitled “Things My Mother Never Told Me About Pharmacy,” will be 4-5:30 p.m. in the Ballroom 210 in the newly renovated University Center.

From 2000 to 2012, Hopson was a member of the Texas House of Representatives serving District 11 in East Texas. During his tenure, Hopson served as Chairman of the powerful General Investigating and Ethics Committee, as well as a member of the Public Health Committee and the Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee.

A 1965 graduate of UH College of Pharmacy, Hopson owned and operated the independent pharmacy May Drug in his native city of Jacksonville from 1973 to 2011. An active member of the Texas Pharmacy Association and is a past President of the Texas Society of Health-system Pharmacists and the Central East Texas Pharmacy Association.

Before his service in the Texas Legislature, Hopson was active in local government. He was elected to the Jacksonville School Board and the Jacksonville City Council, and was appointed Vice-Chair of the local Planning and Zoning Commission. Chuck also served on the Board of Trustees for Lon Morris College in Jacksonville.

Hopson has been an active member of his community with service on numerous boards and charitable organizations, including Austin Bank, the Nan Travis Hospital Foundation, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Chuck has also served First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville as a Sunday school teacher.

Hopson continues to work in the legislative arena as owner of Hopson Consulting Group. He also serves on the UHCOP Dean’s Advisory Council.

Chuck and his wife Billie, a former educator and school counselor for more than thirty years, have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Hopson’s community, political and professional service has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the UHCOP Distinguished Alumnus Award (2004) and the UHCOP Dean’s Special Recognition Award (2012) and serving as the UHCOP Class of 2007 Commencement Speaker.

His many other accolades include Business Man of the Year by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (1999); Best Elected Official by the Readers of the Jacksonville Daily Progress (2002); Citizen of the Year by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce (2002); Texas Association of Realtors’ Honor Roll (2001 and 2003); Lonestar Statesman Award from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform (2004); and Award of Recognition for
Continued Commitment to Law Enforcement by the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 56 (2004).

Doctors Over Prescribe Name-Brand Drugs

Posted Friday, November 22nd 2013 @ 5am  by KTRH’s Corey Olson

Medicare doctors prescribing expensive name-brand drugs over cheaper generics is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.  That is the conclusion of a new study from the non-profit investigative journalism group ProPublica.  The research examined Medicare’s Part D prescription drug program, and found that a certain group of doctors disproportionately prescribed name-brand drugs even when generic versions were available, costing the program an extra $300 million in 2011.  Doctors can do this because Part D allows low income people to pay the same co-pay for prescription drugs, regardless of whether the drugs are name-brand or generic.  That means customers don’t see the price difference, so the added cost is borne by the program.

The entire system of “name-brand” versus “generics” is based on incentivizing new research and development, according to Dr. Marc Fleming, professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.  “Once these drugs go off patent, they’re opened up for the masses of people to get a lower price (through generics), which means now these brand-name companies have to go back and come up with the next great discovery,” he says.  Most patents allow developers to exclusively sell the drug for 7-11 years, before competition takes hold.  Dr. Fleming doesn’t think that changing or doing away with the patent system is the answer.  “If the system didn’t exist, or if companies didn’t lose patents, we don’t know if that would actually hurt new drug development,” he says.

Another issue found in the study is that many of the doctors who prescribe name-brand medications have financial ties to the companies that make those drugs.  “Patients believe what doctors tell them,” says Dr. Fleming.  “Some patients will tell you only Nexium works for them, even though Prilosec is available generically.”  The solution, he argues, is better communication between patients and doctors when it comes to prescriptions.  “Ask your doctor is there any particular reason why you prescribed this drug over the other one,” says Dr. Fleming.  “And if they can’t give a valid explanation, then patients should request the generic version.”

Read more: http://www.ktrh.com/articles/houston-news-121300/doctors-over-prescribe-namebrand-drugs-11851604/#ixzz2mWdfeEc8

 

UH Secures First Runner-up for NCPA Chapter of Year

Student Chapter Ranks No. 2 in Nation for Second Year in a Row

The UH College of Pharmacy Chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association took home its second consecutive First Runner-up finish for the Chapter of the Year competition at the NCPA’s 115th Annual Convention & Trade Exposition Oct. 12-16 in Orlando, Fla.

In addition, UHCOP chapter member Esther Thomaswas among 32 students recognized as the NCPA Student Chapter Outstanding Members of the Year. The chapter award, which includes $1,000 in support, and outstanding member award are presented by the NCPA Foundation with support from McKesson.

The UHCOP chapter has undergone a major resurgence in recent years, including having three consecutive students elected to two-year terms on the Student National Leadership Council – one of whom was elected National SLC President.

Chapters vying for national honors are evaluated based on such critieria as program originality/innovation, number of chapter members involved, impact on the community, benefit to student chapter members, and collaboration with independent pharmacies and health care organizations.

“Being named first runner-up two years in a row is a huge accomplishment for us,” said current Chapter President Ally Thrall. “It goes to show how involved our students are and it definitely feels good to be recognized for all of our hard work. The past few presidents Zeke Medina, Bobby Clay and Tam Nguyen have set a standard of excellence for our chapter and I have big shoes to fill this year.

“In my opinion, independent pharmacy is the life of pharmacy. I think UHCOP students are passionate about all of the different opportunities within pharmacy and are interested in learning about all of the different options they have in the future.”

The UH chapter’s 2012-13 academic year activities — upon which the awards are based — included hosting its 3rd Annual Meet and Greet to connect students with independent pharmacy owners; offering dual membership in the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and NCPA; participation in the Day at the Dome/TPA Leadership Symposium; and organizing a three-part Legislative Workshop Series featuring speakers from the Texas Pharmacy Association and Texas Pharmacy Business Council and covering such topics as how to communicate effectively with lawmakers.

In addition, NCPA members provided health education and wellness screenings at several large health fairs throughout the year, including the Diabetes Awareness Day at a south Houston YMCA; Well Woman Extravaganza, UH Health Awareness Day/Drug Take-back and Frontier Fiesta events at UH; and the Festival of Life Stroke Education and Health Fair at the Houston Zoo.

“The UHCOP NCPA Chapter’s ranking is a direct reflection of the strong work ethic in our membership and support from our independent pharmacists,” said Tam Nguyen, 2012-13 chapter president. “Our ranking helps build momentum and excitement for the new school year, especially for our new officers and incoming P1 students. Being ranked First Runner-up two years in a row is a validation that we got it ‘right’ here at UHCOP.”

“My term as the 2012-2013 Chapter President was a blessing due to the support of our alumni and other independent pharmacists. For example, Mr. Bruce Biundo, co-chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council and immediate past chair of TPA PharmPAC, has been one of our strongest supporters. He reached out to NCPA members and officers to be more involved with Texas pharmacy legislation and sponsored us to attend conferences. Last but not least, I have to mention the support from Dr. Lynn Simpson, NCPA chapter advisor and UH alumna. Her passion and enthusiasm for students involvement in organization are contagious.”

Thrall credited Nguyen for the development of the “Daily Dose,” a biweekly addition to the UH NCPA email, that discussed issues facing independent and Texas Pharmacy.

“Not only did this help promote independent pharmacy, but it also spread political awareness of on going issues that were very important to our profession as a whole,” Thrall said. “We are continuing to implement the Daily Dose into our emails this year to keep encouraging interest in independent pharmacy as well as political advocacy.”

The Chapter of the Year honorees were congratulated at the event by Sharlea Leatherwood, PD, NCPA Foundation president.

“NCPA student chapters help future pharmacists become future pharmacy owners through entrepreneurial-based programs during their collegiate experience,” Leatherwood said. “Amazingly, many of our 2013 honorees were recipients of the same awards in 2012, which is clearly an indication of the ongoing commitment to excellence of these schools. We applaud all the NCPA student chapters for their dedication to community pharmacy.”

 

UH Pharmacy Clinic Honored for Helping Homeless

The College of Pharmacy received national recognition from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy this summer for their work at the Houston Outreach Medicine, Education and Social Services Clinic, a student-run operation that aided thousands of homeless people in downtown Houston.

Pharmacy faculty member and HOMES preceptor David Wallace, director Kim Anh Pham, senior representative Henrietta Abodakpi and Pharmacy Dean F. Lamar Pritchard received a grant worth of $16,000 at the AACP Annual Meeting in Chicago, where they got to present the work they are doing and share the impact it having on the community.

The level of commitment and continuity is amazing, Wallace said. The award represents recognition of all the dedication and hard work the students have done in collaboration with medical students from the Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston since 2000, when the clinic was founded by BCM physician David Buck.

The application process was often a daunting task, but Abodakpi said it compelled her to take a larger look at the approach to care she has been advocating and practicing and whether it does enough to ensure the well-being of the homeless population.

“It is my hope that the clinic will continue to educate my peer student pharmacists on the predominant social, economic and personal challenges that afflict the homeless in our community,” Abodakpi said.

Buck also founded the clinic’s sponsor, Healthcare for the Homeless — Houston, a nonprofit organization and federally-qualified health center that provides healthcare services to the local homeless population. HHH has helped sustain the efforts of the HOMES Clinic by providing medications, supplies and funding since its founding, which has helped the student volunteers to see more than 3,000 patients.

Pham said helping those in need keeps her grounded through her studies and serves as a constant reminder of why she pursues a career in pharmacy.

“It is because of the many experiences at (the) HOMES Clinic that compelled me to be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and be the person of change to guide others out of the vicious cycle that homelessness creates,” Pham said.

news@thedailycougar.com

Tags: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and Social Services Clinic, College of Pharmacy, education, Email Edition, HOMES, Houston Outreach Medicine, University of Houston