Looking Back

I was just remembering my first year in pharmacy school, when I wanted to be a part of that society.

Looking back, I can only imagine what it must have been like for those pharmacy students who came from an entire family of pharmacists, and weren't sure that they wanted to become one too.

Does Education Stifle Creativity?

I was having a conversation with Jerry Fahri last week over his thoughts about how bureaucracy may be stifling innovation. As it relates to the profession of pharmacy, I can understand his reasoning, and it makes sense - at least to me.

Having graduated from a COP that I felt provided a stifling and restrictive environment, I find that this videoed speech from the perspective of Woz does a good job of explaining how the higher-education system could be contributing to that lack of creativity.

Soylent Green Is Pharmacy Students

Paradigm shift my ass. Soylent Green is pharmacy students. At least by my experiences.

Sick | A Short Film

When I was a teenager there wasn't the predominance of STIs/STDs as there is now. HIV hadn't arrived yet, and herpes was just coming onto the scene. The only time I heard the word "chlamydia" was after being introduced to the Puerto Rican girl who lived down the block, Chlamydia Santiago. When people did happen to catch an STD, most were easily treatable with "lower level" antibiotics. It wasn't something to worry to much about. A lot of people got "clap" and it wasn't that big of a deal.

Nowadays, STDs are at epidemic levels. The CDC estimates that there are 19 million new infections every year in the United States. HIV has taken the lives of a great many people, herpes is considered a predominant STI, HPV entered onto the scene, and chlamydia is now the most reported STD in the United States. The lower level antibiotics used to treat common STDs don't work anymore, and now the CDC reports gonorrhea becoming resistant to the most powerful antibiotics used to treat it.

If you're having unprotected sex, an STD isn't something that you "may" catch, it's now something that you're "likely" to catch - and the consequences can be severe. So, now that you're aware of the dangers, the least you can do is to accept them, make wiser choices, and always use protection.

But, don't just take my word for it. See for yourself.

Carisoprodol Changes To Schedule IV

I'm sure there's hardly anyone who reads the Federal Register, unless they can't seem to fall asleep at night. So, I thought I would publish some handy information culled from the January 2012 edition of the Arizona Board of Pharmacy Newsletter (pdf).

According to excerpts from the newsletter -

Carisoprodol (Soma®) will be placed in Federal Controlled Substance Schedule IV on January 11, 2012. The final rule placing carisoprodol into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act was published on Monday, December 12, 2011, in the Federal Register, effective 30 days after publication.

Regulatory requirements are effective on a staggered time line as outlined below. The final rule will be available for public inspection at www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/. Upon publication the final rule will be posted on the DEA Web site at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/index.html and it will also be available on www.regulations.gov.

Pharmacists take notice - Arizona pharmacies are required to inventory their stock of carisoprodol at the open or close of business on January 11, 2012. Other state boards may have similar rules.

Prescribers take notice - Follow the federal rules and laws now required for prescribing and refilling carisoprodol, and PLEASE include your DEA NUMBER on newly written prescriptions.

Public take notice - Stay out of trouble. Now that carisoprodol will become a "federally-scheduled" drug, the DEA IS INVOLVED. Make sure you KNOW THE LAWS about buying it in Mexico and bringing it across the border, or for carrying a controlled-substance without a legal prescription.

Spell It And Prevent It

Kids are growing up much faster these days than when I was a kid, and with the growth of technology and the advent of the internet, they're exposed to MUCH MORE too. But, perhaps that's a good thing. Life can be much easier when one is more aware and better educated.


Source: In The Know