The issue of drug-related deaths has been a terrible problem in Scotland for many years now. The country has one of the worst records in Europe for drug-related deaths, and despite various efforts, not least the Drug Deaths Taskforce, the number of unfortunate drug-related deaths remains far too high in Scotland.
Professor Catriona Matheson, a pharmacist, has worked in this area for some years and is very well-published. She has robust thoughts and ideas about changing things to help save lives.
I was very fortunate to sit down with her for a chat about her career, the spectre of drug deaths in Scotland, and how pharmacists and their teams are now collaborating to find solutions in this area.
The conversation covered the following questions.
- How does the pharmacy community influence public health, particularly concerning drug misuse?
- How can the pharmacy profession better support individuals struggling with substance use?
- What role does stigma play in the treatment of individuals seeking help for substance misuse?
- What specific actions can pharmacists take to improve patient interactions regarding drug use?
- How can the Scottish Pharmacy Alliance effectively mobilize resources and expertise to tackle drug misuse?
Further reading
Matheson, C., Hunter, C., Schofield, J., O’Sullivan, K., Hunter, J., Munro, A., & Parkes, T. (2023). Making community pharmacies psychologically informed environments (PIE): A feasibility study to improve engagement with people using drug services in Scotland. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 24, E20. doi:10.1017/S1463423623000087)
You can listen to the conversation on our podcast if you prefer.
Editor’s Note: Professor Matheson and her colleagues in the Scottish Pharmacy Alliance will be presenting at this year’s Pharmacy in Practice Conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from leaders in the field.
You can register for our conference below.