The Pharmacist's Voice ® LLC

Episode 368 Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Through a Poison Prevention Lens

Poison Prevention, Series

This is my annual poison prevention episode. The topic this year is The risks and benefits of using medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) from a Poison Prevention Educator’s Point of View. My guests are Angel Bivens, RPh and Dr. Wendy Stephan. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance specific to your situation.

Angel Bivens, RPh is the Managing Director at the Maryland Poison Center in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Wendy Stephan, PhD is the Educator and Epidemiologist at the Poison Control Center in Miami, Florida. She is also on the Board of Directors of America’s Poison Centers, which is the organization that supports all 53 Poison Centers in the United States.

Links and info from this episode

Other Poison Prevention Episodes

Take-away messages from Episode 368 in March 2026:

  1. Overdose deaths declined between 2023 and 2024. 
  2. More than 23 million people are in recovery or have recovered from SUD. 
  3. Stigma associated with recovery needs to decline as the number of people in recovery increases.
  4. Recovery is possible, and it’s probable.
  5. Poison Prevention Educators talk to students and communities about substance abuse prevention.
  6. Opioid use disorder has many possible entry points, including using pain killers from surgery or dental work, experimentation, and accidental use.
  7. Pharmacists have the opportunity to counsel on proper use and storage of MOUD.
  8. Counsel to take oral doses in private, so vulnerable individuals cannot see. Vulnerable individuals, like children or DD adults want to imitate the behavior of others.
  9. Avoid medication errors. Remove distractions while taking or giving medications, and read the label every time. Keep a personal MAR, if needed, to remember if a dose has been taken. 
  10. If a medication error happens, get help (Poison Help or 9-1-1), forgive yourself, and continue your road to recovery. 
  11. Narcan is import for anyone in recovery from opioid addiction to have. But, a person experiencing an OD will be unable to give themselves Narcan. Make sure your patients educate the people around them about what Narcan is, when to use it, and how to administer it. 
  12. As a general rule, counsel on calling 9-1-1 after giving a dose of Narcan. It can wear off. 
  13. Pharmacists should counsel on risks of keeping MOUD in the home: accidental use by a curious, opioid-naive child, confusion with other meds, accidental second dose, etc.
  14. Call Poison Help right away with exposure concerns, but skip right to 9-1-1 if the person is not breathing, unconscious, or having a seizure. 
  15. Poison Center Staff are experts in poison information. They help healthcare professionals and the general public with questions. If you call, you’re in good hands.
  16. Adults of all ages may be in recovery. It’s not just a health condition for young people. 
  17. Get Poison Help Line magnets for your pharmacy, and share them with your patients. If you need some magnets, call 1-800-222-1222. 
  18. March is Poison Prevention Month in the United States. National Poison Prevention Week in the US is March 15-21, 2026, and the theme is, “When the unexpected happens, Poison Help is here for you.” There is a partner toolkit with images and talking points on https://piper.filecamp.com/s/i/OOt8k1JlBFCc08KH 
  19. A complete health history is important. Ask about recovery. Include “in recovery from opioid addiction” as a health condition at the pharmacy and with medical providers. 
  20. Advise patients to inscribe, “Do not give opioids” on medic alert jewelry. Similar advice, advise patient to include “do not give opioids” in the “health app” on their smartphone in case of emergency.
  21. Pharmacists (this is a tough one). If you see something, say something. Protect your patient’s recovery. If something on your prescription monitoring program suggests that your patient is in recovery, but they are trying to fill prescriptions for opioids, protect their recovery. Maybe a well-meaning dentist, doctor, or surgeon wrote a prescription and didn’t know the whole story. Or, maybe your patient wants to relapse. If you see something, say something, even if it feels awkward. Prevent relapses and maybe overdoses with patients who have a lower tolerance for opioids. 
  22. Be skeptical of natural products and supplements that have been promised to help with opioid withdrawal. 
  23. Terminology matters. Know your audience, and reflect their preferred language back to them. Avoid terms that are stigmatizing, like “junkie.” When in doubt, ask the person you’re speaking with how they prefer to call themselves. 

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