Healthcare professionals will encounter individuals who are addicted to, or misuse, prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines or who are not using medicines the way that they were intended.
This learning programme considers what can be done to recognise the key risk factors and triggers that may lead us to prevent these medicines from being misused and looks at the support we can provide to people who have become dependent on medicines.
Learning outcomes
On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:
- define the term 'addiction to and misuse of medicines' with respect to prescribed and OTC medicines
- recognise the best practice in safe and effective prescribing likely to reduce the risks and harms from addictive medicines
- describe appropriate services, treatment interventions and care pathways which can support people who have become dependent on specific medicines
- identify key groups of people who are at risk of becoming dependent on medicines and list the common medicines involved
- advise people on the appropriate use of OTC medicines to minimise their risk of misuse or dependency using a person-centred approach
- differentiate between prevention and treatment (recovery) aspects of addiction or misuse to medicines.
How to use this programme
You can access this e-learning programme using a web browser on any device. You will need to be connected to the internet while you work through it.
Learning intended for
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Trainee pharmacists
- CPPE registrants
