Opioid Crisis Collection Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The opioid epidemic, defined as the rapid growth in use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs in the United States that has developed into opioid misuse and addiction, is an ongoing and evolving public health crisis. AACP is aware of many of the successful practices that academic pharmacy is involved with to address this epidemic. However, a purposeful scan of the activities that academic pharmacy is participating within regarding this issue has not been performed. The information collected will not only inform the academy and other stakeholders of the level and type of activities being conducted by academic pharmacy to address this public health crisis, but it will also serve to determine further actions that AACP and the academy can pursue in this area in the future.

AACP is aware of many of the successful practices that academic pharmacy is involved with to help to address this epidemic. However, AACP does not have a definitive response when asked how many colleges or schools of pharmacy are involved with efforts to address the opioid epidemic. The information collected from the colleges and schools of pharmacy will not only inform the academy and other stakeholders of the level and type of activities being conducted by academic pharmacy to address this public health crisis, but it will also serve to determine further actions that AACP and the academy can pursue in this area in the future.

For the purpose of this collection of information by AACP, an activity is broadly defined—it can be a collaboration, initiative, lecture, partnership, or program. It can be in the area of advocacy, education, teaching, practice, research, and/or service. It can be internal to the college or school of pharmacy (e.g., activity targeting students, faculty, staff, and/or administration) or external to the college or school of pharmacy.  As the activities are submitted, collected and analyzed, AACP staff will determine the applicable classifications or categories of the activities.

The following information will be collected for each activity:

• Brief description of the activity addressing the opioid epidemic, including the purpose/goal of the activity (The description should be no more than 250 words.  An activity may be a collaboration, initiative, lecture, partnership, or program.  An activity may be in the area of advocacy, education, teaching, practice, research, and/or service. It can be internal to the college or school of pharmacy (e.g., activity targeting students, faculty, staff, and/or administration) or external to the college or school of pharmacy).*
• Brief explanation of how and when the activity began (No more than 500 words).
• Collaborators(s)/Partner(s) [if applicable].
• Funding source(s) [if applicable].
• Availability of additional information regarding the activity (e.g., links to article(s), website) [if applicable].
• Additional information regarding the activity (e.g., measureable outcome(s) pertaining to the public, such as number of patients reached, patient outcomes, number of opiate overdoses prevented; other outcomes; success stories; future plans) (No more than 500 words).
• Point person at the college or school to contact regarding the activity.*
• Contact email of the point person at the college or school to contact regarding the activity.*

*Information that will be provided to the academy

AACP will be collecting information from its members on their activities to address the opioid epidemic online at AACP Collection of Opioid Activities. AACP encourages the administration, faculty, and staff at each institution to work collectively to ensure that all activities are reported and that each activity is reported only once. AACP staff will be monitoring information as it is submitted and will contact the submitter with any questions or comments regarding the submissions.

Yes, multiple activities that address the opioid epidemic will be accepted for each college or school of pharmacy.  In addition, more than one person from a college or school of pharmacy may submit an activity to address the opioid epidemic. AACP encourages the administration, faculty, and staff at each institution to work collectively to ensure that all activities are reported and that each activity is reported only once.  AACP staff will be monitoring information as it is submitted and will contact the submitter with any questions or comments regarding the submissions.

No, the college or school of pharmacy’s activity that addresses the opioid epidemic does not have to be submitted by the CEO Dean or another part of the institution’s administration. Anyone from a college or school of pharmacy may submit one or more activities pertaining to this area. However, AACP encourages the administration, faculty, and staff at each institution to work collectively to ensure that all activities are reported and that each activity is reported only once. AACP staff will be monitoring information as it is submitted and will contact the submitter with any questions or comments regarding the submissions.

The collection of opioid-related activities is ongoing.

AACP plans to share a portion of the information from the collected activities with its membership with the goals of:

• promoting the activities of the academy;
• sharing successful practices; and
• encouraging future partnerships and collaborations (within and external to academic pharmacy).

AACP will evaluate and determine which activities will be shared with members. Not all submissions will be shared with members.
 

Opioid-related activities are available in AACP's online database. 

Any questions regarding the AACP collection of activities to address the opioid epidemic should be sent to opioid@aacp.org. Several AACP staff members will have access to this email address and will strive to answer all inquiries within 2 business days.