The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) has launched a virtual communication toolkit to help pharmacists engage patients in effective conversations about opioids.
The toolkit is part of NAPRA’s commitment to the Joint Statement of Action to Address the Opioid Crisis. The resource provides pharmacists with communication tips, strategies, behaviours, and sample dialogue, as well as links to other resources and references.
The toolkit introduces and explains in detail three stages for engaging in conversations with patients:
- Stop and listen to your patients.
- Drop stigma and talk about opioids, avoiding assumptions about a patient’s pain, life situation, or willingness to talk.
- Roll with resistance and encourage patients to work with you.
The toolkit is one of many resources for pharmacists that can be found in the Opioids section of the ACP website, including an opioid risk tool, navigating opioids for chronic pain, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, and more.
