Program to School Pharmacy Staff on New Meth Law
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- A new training program developed jointly by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation and pharmacy training consultancy Learn Something, Inc. aims to assist community pharmacies in the fight against methamphetamine misuse and abuse.
Called MethGuard, the new initiative was created in response to the employee training and education requirements of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. The Act mandates that retailers provide training to all employees involved in the sale of any over-the-counter product containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine -- and to certify with the Drug Enforcement Agency that the training has been completed.
"This training program prepares pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and associates for real world situations, such as identifying suspicious retail purchases of products that might be used to make methamphetamine," said Mary Ann Wagner, R.Ph., s.v.p. of policy and pharmacy regulatory affairs for NACDS. "The program was specifically tailored to help retail employees perform the new duties and procedures required by the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act."
Beginning April 7th, all retailers are now required to enforce daily sales limits on these products. Other requirements for employee training, product placement, consumer identification and logging processes go into effect on September 30, 2006.
The online training program was developed to be flexible to meet the specific training requirements of individual companies, including company policies, and procedures. The program can be branded to fit within the look and feel of other training programs, including company logos and customized introductions.
One hour of Pharmacy Continuing Education (PCE) credit is available to individuals who successfully complete the training.
Called MethGuard, the new initiative was created in response to the employee training and education requirements of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. The Act mandates that retailers provide training to all employees involved in the sale of any over-the-counter product containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine -- and to certify with the Drug Enforcement Agency that the training has been completed.
"This training program prepares pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and associates for real world situations, such as identifying suspicious retail purchases of products that might be used to make methamphetamine," said Mary Ann Wagner, R.Ph., s.v.p. of policy and pharmacy regulatory affairs for NACDS. "The program was specifically tailored to help retail employees perform the new duties and procedures required by the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act."
Beginning April 7th, all retailers are now required to enforce daily sales limits on these products. Other requirements for employee training, product placement, consumer identification and logging processes go into effect on September 30, 2006.
The online training program was developed to be flexible to meet the specific training requirements of individual companies, including company policies, and procedures. The program can be branded to fit within the look and feel of other training programs, including company logos and customized introductions.
One hour of Pharmacy Continuing Education (PCE) credit is available to individuals who successfully complete the training.