Original research
by
Fadanelli, Monica et al
Release Date
2022
Geography
USA
Language of Resource
English
Full Text Available
Yes
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Yes
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Objective
While pharmacies have potential to be an easily accessible source of sterile syringes, research in cities has identified moral, legal and ethical barriers that preclude over-the-counter (OTC) sales to people who inject drugs (PWID). The current study builds on prior urban-based research by elucidating (1) pharmacy OTC policies and (2) pharmacists’ rationale for, and barriers and facilitators to, OTC syringe sales in a US rural area hard hit by drug-related epidemics.
Findings/Key points
Most pharmacists operated “restrictive OTC” pharmacies (n = 8), where patients were required to have a prescription or proof of medical need to purchase a syringe. The remainder (n = 6) operated “open OTC” pharmacies, which allowed OTC syringe sales to most patients. Both groups believed their pharmacy policies protected their community and pharmacy from further drug-related harm, but diverging policies emerged because of stigma toward PWID, perceptions of Kentucky law, and belief OTC syringe sales were harmful rather than protective to the community.
Design/methods
14 semi-structured interviews with pharmacists
Keywords
Harm reduction
Hesitancy of prescribers
About pharmacists
Rural/remote
Stigma
