Description
Didn’t the “Just Say No” campaign eradicate addiction, drug overdoses, and drug diversion? When should healthcare professionals expand their respective knowledge base on substances of abuse? Just. Say. NOW. Ethyl alcohol and cannabis may change controlled substances classes yet again in the future, but their respective pharmacology will not, and we as healthcare professionals need to provide impactful patient care with expanded knowledge of substances of abuse. In this continuing education discussion, we will review a multitude of substances of abuse broken down into therapeutic classes and subclasses, with particular attention to structural nuances, clinical pearls, mechanisms of action, and dosages. This discussion is the tip of the iceberg for substances of abuse knowledge, as the introduction to the overall Substances of Abuse Specialty Pharmacist (SASP) Certificate training program, but in and of itself, will provide a broader depth of knowledge than the average clinician is ever armed with for patient care. Perhaps the time is NOW time to say “Just Say KNOW”, and best equip ourselves to provide the highest quality patient care possible.