Our “Opioid Crisis” has numerous pharmacies and pharmacists being investigated by our Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for flagged concerns regarding controlled substance dispensing. This is a key situation of an ounce of prevention (education) being worth a pound of treatment (criminal enforcement).

Will I lose my license? Just how far is too far? No one ever enjoys answers to difficult patient care scenarios being the cookie cutter answers of “differs patient to patient”. Yet, just how does one recommend to dispense medications as a pharmacist adhering to the Controlled Substance Act “corresponding responsibility” complimentary to prescribers while accounting for reasonable patient variations? Join us for a dynamic discussion on how to provide patient care as a pharmacist while staying within the parameters of law described by many, yet clarified in black and white as the “DEA Red Flags”.

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Recall the “DEA Red Flags” for prescribers and dispensers, and explain how to respectfully proceed when misuse, abuse, or diversion is suspected and/or confirmed.
2. Recognize appropriate actions for a pharmacist related to the federal mandated corresponding responsibility to ensure the legitimate medical purpose and usual course of practice for any given prescription.
3. Recall appropriate substance-use disorder and drug diversion/abuse referral resources for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
4.  

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Recall the “DEA Red Flags” for prescribers and dispensers, and explain how to respectfully proceed when misuse, abuse, or diversion is suspected and/or confirmed.
2. Recognize appropriate actions for a pharmacist related to the federal mandated corresponding responsibility to ensure the legitimate medical purpose and usual course of practice for any given prescription.
3. Recall appropriate substance-use disorder and drug diversion/abuse referral resources for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
4.  

AchieveCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. AchieveCE is also accredited by the Florida Board of Pharmacy (provider no. 50-20641). This course is approved by CE Broker, with CE Broker No. 20-851311.

Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Experiential Learning for the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy (SoP), a faculty member in the WVU School of Medicine Pain Fellowship Program, and a Clinical Pain Management Pharmacist at the WVU Medicine Center for Integrative Pain Management. Dr. Garofoli received his PharmD at the University of Pittsburgh SoP in 2004 and his MBA from Strayer University in 2008. He is board certified in Geriatric Care (BGCP) along with being a certified pain educator (CPE) and certified tobacco treatment specialist (CTTS). Dr. Garofoli began his career with CVS Health in community pharmacy management, then worked as a Humana Healthcare MTM clinical pharmacist, leading to the development of patient-centered and managed care centered programs and the Safe & Effective Management of Pain state guidelines. Mark has consulted as a CDC grant reviewer, a professional journals reviewer, a civil and criminal expert witness, and is the host of the “PAIN POD” on the Pharmacy Podcast Network with an international audience of 80,000 healthcare professionals. Mark’s professional passions lie within pain management and addiction patient care and education for healthcare professionals and society alike.

This activity was developed by AchieveCE free of any commercial support. Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE has no actual or potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

  Level 2. Basic Application of Skills and Concepts