Pain - Cooperation with Pharmacies

Community pharmacists have a special perspective that can contribute significantly to better management of pain care and control of medication abuse and diversion in Berkshire County.  Pharmacists are often in a position to observe conduct (including by prescribers) that can lead to abuse and diversion as well as conduct that may be actual evidence of abuse and diversion. The Community Pain Management Project is adding community pharmacists to its Steering Committee and will be working with all community pharmacists to more efficiently coordinate the flow of information between pharmacists and prescribers around issues of pain management prescribing and potential prescription abuse. The Community Pain Management Project will also assist in improving the efficiency and coordination between community pharmacies and the Prescription Monitoring Program and, when appropriate and necessary between pharmacists and local law enforcement.