[Changes in pharmacists practices (1996 - 2000) related to harm reduction policy (condoms, injecting equipment, methylmorphine) and maintenance therapy delivery (buprenorphine, methadone)].
OBJECTIVE
To measure pharmacists involvement in harm reduction programs and in delivery of maintenance therapies in order to estimate their contribution to the new public health policy.


METHODS
A longitudinal study was conducted among 327 pharmacies located in the southern suburban area of Paris (28 communities) using a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate was 95% in 1996 and 92% in 2000. The number of condoms offered to intravenous drug users (IDU) decreased dramatically from 99% to 24% while delivered units decreased from 857 to 566 per day for needles and from 1200 to 760 per month per pharmacy for methylmorphine tablets (14.93 mg/tablet). Pharmacists delivered injecting equipment to some of their patients under opiate treatment: methylmorphine 19%, buprenorphine 35%, methadone 14%. Their contribution to the local healthcare network on addiction decreased from 38% to 20%. Nevertheless, the pharmacists attitude towards the IDU and public health policy was found to be improving with problems being mentioned for 62% of the cases in 1996 and for 16% in 2000.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists are rapidly and intensively changing their practices and are discovering a new comprehensive relationship with IDU. Better pharmacist involvement is associated with a shift in local healthcare network concentration, reinforcing the general practitioner-pharmacist partnership.
Bonnet
N
N
Pharmacie, Hôpital Paul-Guiraud, 54, avenue de la République, 94806 Villejuif Cedex, France.
Beauverie
P
P
Gaudoneix-Taïeb
M
M
Poisson
N
N
Imbert
E
E
Fournier
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017280:Condoms / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D012306:Risk; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone