# Community pharmacy: delivering substance misuse services

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/151e258f-9f52-4b6b-a52a-18a4c63266dd
Type: Guidance
Published: January 24, 2024

> This guidance, commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and developed by the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP), establishes a best practice framework for community pharmacies in England serving individuals with drug and alcohol dependencies. The document aims to facilitate the commissioning and delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective care to increase treatment engagement and significantly reduce substance-related harms, including accidental overdose deaths. As this is a best-practice guidance document rather than an inspection report, there are no specific inspection dates or violations cited; however, it addresses the broader need to improve clinical standards in mental health and substance use pharmacy practice. The regulatory framework emphasizes adherence to national health standards to ensure consistent service delivery across the region. Required actions for pharmacies include adopting the outlined best practices, improving the expertise of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and collaborating with stakeholders to integrate services into the wider recovery network. By following these guidelines, community pharmacies play a critical role in supporting the recovery journey and reducing the public health burden of substance misuse.

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## Content

This guidance is for community pharmacies in England that deliver services to people who use drugs and alcohol. It aims to: assist the commissioning and delivery of high quality, safe and effective care that can engage more people in drug and alcohol treatment reduce harms associated with the use of drugs and alcohol, including deaths from accidental overdose The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities commissioned the College of Mental Health Pharmacy ( CMHP ) to draft this best practice guidance with stakeholders. CMHP is an international charity working to improve care provision by advancing the mental health (including substance use) practice of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

## Attachments

- [Community pharmacy: delivering substance misuse services](/government/publications/community-pharmacy-delivering-substance-misuse-services/community-pharmacy-delivering-substance-misuse-services)