News and Insights for Psychiatric Pharmacists

Suboxone and Zubsolv have modified their labels to clarify that there is no maximum daily dosage. This follows the FDA’s December recommendation that transmucosal buprenorphine product labels be updated to address misperceptions of a daily maximum dose of 16 or 24 milligrams.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the use of prior authorization (PA) for behavioral health services in Medicare Advantage (MA) found that of the 9 MA organizations reviewed, most required PA for inpatient and partial hospitalization care. Nearly all MA plans under review used internal coverage criteria for PA decisions, especially for inpatient care. GAO recommends that CMS target behavioral health services in its program audit reviews of PA denials and planned reviews of internal coverage criteria, scheduled to begin in 2026.

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has released the 2025 Pain in the Nation Report, which tracks alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths nationally and for population groups. The report shows that deaths due to drug overdose and alcohol are down nationally, but this progress is uneven across population groups and at risk due to cuts to federal health programs and workforce.

Visit this blog from the Children’s Hospital Association, explaining how critical Medicaid is for children's access to mental health services. The House-passed reconciliation bill would make financing changes to Medicaid, that are detrimental to children and pediatric care.

This advisory delves into the psychological implications of AI on young people, offering critical insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, and technology developers. This resource provides valuable, evidence-based guidance to inform legislative, educational, and care-delivery efforts.

It is that time of year again where AAPP begins the process of nominating leaders for the AAPP Board for the next two years (2026-2028). AAPP is seeking candidates for the board offices of President-Elect and Member-At-Large (2 positions). Active AAPP members are asked to contribute to the shaping of AAPP’s future by nominating individuals to serve in these important leadership positions. Nominations must be submitted no later than June 24 at Noon Central.

AAPP joined 500 organizational and 2,355 individual signers sending a letter in support of the National Institutes of Health. The letter summarizes the deep concern that the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request cuts the NIH budget by eighteen billion dollars and consolidates or eliminates institutes and centers without congressional hearings or public input.

SAMHSA has released a Dear Colleague Letter offering guidance on benzodiazepine (BZD) use in older adults. The letter refers healthcare professionals to the ASAM guidelines which AAPP contributed to, highlights the public health importance of reducing long-term benzodiazepine use among older adults, and promotes patient-centered, evidence-informed strategies for evaluating ongoing BZD use.

Event site selection has been increasingly challenging for all associations with post-pandemic costs skyrocketing along with state legislation considered, by many, to be discriminatory and harmful. Our Annual Meeting 2024 (April 7-10, Orlando) host state of Florida is certainly one of those in the news this week with NAACP and others issuing travel advisories. Why then is AAPP hosting an event in Florida?

Dr. Rebekah Torchon, a Defining the Future grant recipient, studied barriers in mental health care in the Haitian Population. Overall, most participants felt comfortable discussing mental health concerns, especially with providers sharing their language and cultural background, but many faced limited transportation access. She is concluding her research by recommending strategies to reduce this transportation barrier. Great work, Dr. Torchon! The application portal for 2025 Defining the Future applicants is open! Learn more and apply by Sept. 4, 2025.

"While working with the inpatient unit, I learned more about the transition of care to our outpatient Women's Mood Disorder clinic, the site for my ambulatory rotation during residency. My residency program director coordinated with the attending physician who oversaw the clinic, and I was immediately acknowledged as a member of the team. I was the first pharmacist to practice in this setting, which was a valuable experience in and of itself. I spent six months in the once-a-week clinic and grew to love my time there. To date, this was the most informative and rewarding patient care experience of my career..." Learn more about Caitlin Hughes' experience with perinatal psychiatry.

Whether you're improving transitions of care, managing special populations, or building a profitable clinic - this program has you covered! Register now and gain up to 9 CE credits by completing modules of interest. #LAI

AAPP submitted comments on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) proposed rule regarding Special Registrations for Telemedicine. AAPP emphasized concerns that the rule imposes unnecessary barriers to accessing mental health and substance use disorder treatments, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Key recommendations include removing the in-person visit requirement for controlled substance prescriptions, clarifying psychiatric pharmacists’ eligibility for Special Registration, and streamlining state registration and PDMP requirements. AAPP also urged the DEA to extend pandemic-era teleprescribing flexibilities permanently.

AAPP Foundation Impact Grant recipients, the VCU Collegiate Chapter, collaborated with dental and nursing students to compile 272 dental hygiene kits. The kits were distributed along with educational handouts to patients at local substance use disorder clinics and a retail pharmacy, and patients reported learning about possible adverse drug reactions with buprenorphine that they did not know much about previously. Great work, VCU Collegiate Chapter! Hear about the project by viewing the recorded presentation.

The AAPP Residents and New Practitioners Committee is pleased to provide a suggested reading list of the top references as a service and as a forum for member discussion. Consider these resources as a foundation for your reference library.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides comprehensive health care to around 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) across 37 states belonging to 574 federally recognized tribes. The federal government established a special relationship with these tribes in 1787 to provide health services and raise their overall health status to the highest level.

AAPP surveys show that at least 90% of successful BCPP candidates purchase the Review Book as their primary study tool. 100% of survey respondents indicate that the Review Book was their primary study resource and a key tool to their certification success! Get your book today and start studying!

Pharmacy careers change lives. Learn if a job as a pharmacist is right for you and how you can help people live better, healthier lives. #Pharmacy #PsychPharm

Improve your peer review skills! Discover the components to evaluate, the role of the peer reviewer, the skills necessary to critically evaluate a manuscript, and how to provide feedback to authors and journal editors.

AAPP and the AAPP Foundation are pleased to be offering a complimentary, 2-hour workshop: Cultivating Expertise: Enhancing Presentation Design and Speaker Development in Psychiatric Pharmacists. Earn ACPE credit and make yourself a standout voice in the field of psychiatric pharmacy!

The 2024 Summit covered topics from street medicine to the management of ADHD. Earn up to 10 hours of credit for just $140 (ACPE) or $160 (ACPE & BCPP - exam due 7/10) as an AAPP member!

AAPP Foundation Impact Grant recipients from the UNC Collegiate Chapter provided opioid overdose preparedness training to students, faculty, and staff at UNC! Participants demonstrated increased confidence in their knowledge. Congrats on a successful project! To hear about the project, watch the presentation recording on the Foundation website.

The 2/6/25 #JournalClub (1/2) presented "Clozapine clinical toolkit optimizes inpatient clozapine monitoring." The recording is available free to all AAPP members.

Upon Senate approval of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House Issued an Executive Order (EO) establishing the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. Among the concerns is the commission’s directive to “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs” in children. The Secretary’s remarks are concerning as they undermine the safety and efficacy of mental health medications as well as feed into stigma for those with mental health disorders who seek treatment. Read more about the Commission and how AAPP is preparing for advocacy.

AAPP is a sponsoring organization of the NIDA Mentor-Facilitated Training Awards (NIDA-MFT) which supports the development of expertise in SUD among early career investigators through the completion of a mentor-supervised project. Applications are due 9/2/25.

The 2024 AAPP Summit, a 2-day virtual event, will be held on October 10th and 11th. The Summit features 8 evidence-based sessions on emerging areas of practice and contemporary issues in psychiatric pharmacy. This interactive, virtual conference is co-sponsored with the Society of Pain and Palliative Care (SPPCP) and provides knowledge and tools to improve the comprehensive care of patients with mental health disorders. Psychiatric and pain pharmacists will find this content valuable regardless of the practice setting. Register now and join us to earn 10 hours of ACPE and BCPP recertification credit! Two grant supported sessions will also be available for an additional 2 hours of ACPE credit.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) held its meeting in Alexandria, VA, to advance collective efforts toward increased recognition of and payment for Pharmacists’ Patient Care Services. The day’s discussions centered on building momentum from current achievements and identifying next steps for progress. During the morning session, members focused on the recently approved, and soon to be released, revised JCPP Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process and explored strategies for implementation across all pharmacy practice settings. The afternoon featured dialogue around regulatory frameworks that support patient care, with particular emphasis on the standards of care approach to pharmacy regulation. Throughout the meeting, JCPP member organizations reaffirmed their commitment to expanding pharmacists’ roles within the health care system and enabling sustained delivery of patient care services. A special thanks to President Michelle Geier who was representing AAPP at her final JCPP meeting.

Register for the free webinar on June 18! The session will explore how interdisciplinary collaboration between pharmacy and laboratory teams can optimize patient care and support the successful implementation of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) programs.

"Understanding the differences [of laws and interpretation of the laws] allows us to not only better serve our patients but also create avenues for advocacy." #WIWIK

The AAPP Foundation continues to promote mental health education to psychiatric pharmacists, residents, and students nationwide by sponsoring Mental Health First Aid training. AAPP Director of Continuing Professional Development Beth DeJongh, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, is the lead faculty member for the training and is joined by AAPP member Emma Palmer, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, Associate Professor at the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati.

Whether you're building an LAI clinic from scratch or scaling up, leadership support and patient access are key. This course shows learners how to advocate for LAI services, boost patient volume, and implement policies that make clinics thrive. #LAI

Toolkit with tips and guideline summaries on opioid use disorder: screening, diagnosis, withdrawal, medications for treatment, overdose prevention education/treatment, special populations, co-occurring disorders, harm reduction strategies, and references.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released important information related to "Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations," "Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter," and "Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients."

AAPP is launching two new BCPP Preparatory Products in June 2024 to help psychiatric pharmacists better prepare for the BCPP exam: a Developing Effective Test-Taking Skills webinar and a Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialty Mock Exam. These products will complement the popular Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review Book and the BCPP Prep Series as methods of preparing for the BCPP exam.

Mental illness and substance use disorders are common in correctional populations. Watch this video to learn about a psychiatric pharmacist's role in correctional healthcare.

AAPP is pleased to announce an additional AAPP Collegiate Chapter bringing the total number of student chapters to 50! Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, advised by AAPP member Faith Wellings, PharmD, BCPS, is the newest student chapter. Congratulations and welcome to AAPP Collegiate Chapter at Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy!

The 2/6/25 #JournalClub (2/2) presented "Comparing Intubation Rates in Patients Receiving Parenteral Olanzapine With and Without a Parenteral Benzodiazepine in the Emergency Department." The recording is available free to all AAPP members.

“The Best part about being a girl is now I don’t have to pretend to be a boy.” Dr. Jennifer Moore began her keynote presentation at AAPP’s 2023 Annual Meeting with this impactful statement, preparing the audience for a discussion on transgender care across the continuum. Delivered with “kindness and compassion”, the learning objectives highlighted components of the transgender experience, including barriers to care as well as multi-disciplinary approaches to care. Delivered with “empathy and respect”, this conversation led the audience through the longitudinal experiences of transgender youth in the U.S.

Act now! Tell the administration to expand access to lifesaving care by eliminating the DEA’s prohibition on the prescribing of methadone for OUD.

During this complimentary, grant-funded webinar, participants will learn about the potential benefits and drawbacks of available PPD treatments – including newer NAS medications. Register today and earn 1 hour of ACPE credit upon webinar completion.

Managing LAIs in special populations requires skill and confidence. This course helps learners navigate complex scenarios - from dual LAI use to treating pregnant and pediatric patients. Build your expertise to optimize care in the toughest cases. #LAI

Thanks to our partnership with Current Psychiatry (CP) published through Quadrant Healthcom Inc., another Savvy Psychopharmacology article was featured in the January 2020 edition of Current Psychiatry. The goal of this section is to present an evidence-based discussion to guide safe, effective prescribing of psychotropic medications. Eva Studer, MD, Tawny L. Smith, PharmD, BCPP, and Smitha Murthy, MD, authored this article on Valproic acid-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Level up your CV and get certified in Mental Health First Aid! The next course is July 16, 2025, and there is no cost thanks to the bequest of Kim Tallian.

FDA Clears First Blood Test Used in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease

The recording of AAPP’s Forum on our Future and answers to the questions posed by members are now posted on the website. Listen in to learn more about the exciting progress at AAPP. Members are welcome to submit questions to board@aapp.org year-round.

Participation will consist of access to virtual training materials, as well as access to a web-based item authoring platform to draft and submit 5-10 exam items according to assigned areas of the examination content outline beginning in July 2025. Applications are due by June 6, 2025.

Join AAPP and other stakeholders in sharing your voice (using the provided toolkit) recommending the elimination of the DEA prohibition on the prescribing of methadone. The DOJ Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force is seeking comment by May 27 on regulations that prevent competition within the health care sector. Current regulation that limits dispensing of methadone for OUD to opioid treatment programs (OTP) is anticompetitive and severely restricts patient access to treatment. Fixing this regulation to allow practitioners to prescribe methadone for OUD that patients can pick up at a local pharmacy would greatly improve patient choice in addiction treatment – especially in cases where methadone is the most effective option for an individual.

This free Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) guide provides webinars introducing CMM and helpful tools for implementing CMM.

This free webinar provides the knowledge and skills to effectively manage benzodiazepine tapering in primary care settings and is co-presented by AAPP member Amy VandenBerg, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP. The webinar is scheduled for 12:00-1:00 PM ET.

"Combatting self-doubt and recognizing imposter syndrome can be a difficult. As a learner in any stage of your career, it is important to recognize your self-worth and keep striving to build off your experiences" #WIWIK

During this complimentary, grant-funded webinar, participants will gain insight into the barriers to effective psychotropic LAI use and explore current research. Register today and earn 1 hour of ACPE credit upon webinar completion.

AAPP is proud to host psychiatric pharmacists, psychiatric pharmacy residents, and pharmacy students of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and sexual orientations at AAPP 2024. AAPP understands how the environment in the host state of Florida may be concerning to conference registrants and members and, as such, AAPP has taken many steps to prioritize the attendee experience and wellbeing.

“What word would you choose to describe the current state of mental health for teenagers in America?” Dr. Jessica “Jessie” Merritt, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, introduced her presentation entitled “Teen Suicide, the Silent Epidemic” with this audience participation question. As words like “crisis,” “scary,” “fragile,” and “concerning” grew larger in the screen, the audience began to explore feelings evoked by the profound initial question, and the topic at hand for one of the Wednesday morning keynote sessions at AAPP 2023.

The 2/20 #JournalClub presented "Evaluation and Comparison of the Effectiveness of Atropine Eye Drops, Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Spray, and Amitriptyline Tablet in the Management of Clozapine-Associated Sialorrhea in Patients With Refractory Schizophrenia"

Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among patients with mental health conditions. Troy Moore, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPP shares his experience in the management of substance use disorders within the Veterans Health Administration.

Sharpen your skills in LAI dosing, administration, and treatment adjustments with expert tips you won't find in standard guidelines. Learn advanced strategies for optimizing LAIs, managing medication errors, and improving patient outcomes. #LAI

A study published in Pediatrics found no causal relationship between stimulants and psychosis among young people with ADHD.

Studying for the BCPP exam? Test your knowledge with our 150-question mock exam! #psychpharmacy #BCPP #AAPP #BPS #boardcertification

Supported by a Collegiate Chapter Impact Grant from the AAPP Foundation, pharmacy student Christian Moon and advisor, Ericka Crouse, led the formation of Resilient Smile! The VCU AAPP Collegiate Chapter recruited students from the schools of medicine, nursing, and dentistry as well as the College of Health Professions and VCU Graduate School to participate in a two-day service project to assemble 250 dental care kits. We applaud their efforts!

"The key to having a positive volunteer experience is selecting an area that you are passionate about so that you...have the most enjoyable and impactful experience." #WIWIK

This free pharmacist toolkit provides quick tips on an overview, HCV medications quick references, drug interactions of Hepatitis C Virus treatments, and references.

Hospitalizations shouldn't interrupt progress. This course arms learners with the tools to ensure psychotropic LAIs are started early, continued through transitions, and supported by strong care coordination. #LAI

Member Stephanie Nichols Presents Navigating Pharmacotherapy: Co-occurring Bipolar Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder on May 15: One of the first educational programs hosted in the new SAMHSA SMI Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) will be presented by member Stephanie Nichols, PharmD, MPH, BCPP, BCPS, FCCP, FAAPP. This webinar will focus on evidence-based strategies for navigating drug interactions, managing adverse effects and optimizing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to improve patient care. Executive Director Brenda Schimenti and Past President Ray Love represent psychiatric pharmacy on the SMI TTAC Consultative Monitoring Board.

During AAPP 2023, AAPP presented the 2023 Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award to Charles Caley, PharmD, BCPP, Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Springfield, MA. The Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award is presented annually to a senior psychiatric pharmacy practitioner who has achieved a level of professional distinction and represents the qualities and ideals of professional enthusiasm, a passion for optimizing patient care, and continuing dedication to the practice of psychiatric pharmacy. The Saklad Memorial Award is named after the late Judith J. Saklad.

AAPP believes the directives of MAHA threatens to worsen health outcomes and reignite stigma toward individuals living with psychiatric disorders. Evidence shows that limiting psychotropic medications will further the mental health crisis.

A certificate award ceremony and dinner at AAPP 2025 provided opportunities to shower attention on the 2025 class of Fellows. The Fellows Program recognizes members who have demonstrated excellence in advancing the practice of psychiatric pharmacy and have distinguished themselves in advancing the mission and goals of the association, thereby promoting public awareness of the profession. After induction, Fellows can be recognized by the initials “FAAPP”.

Thanks to member Becky Hoss, PharmD, BCPP, for responding to media inquiries to AAPP on extended release buprenorphine.

The 2024 Annual Report is available! THANK YOU to our 2024 donors! A full listing is available in the report along with the Foundation Board of Directors.

The 2/20/25 #JournalClub (2/2) presented "Brexpiprazole and sertraline combination treatment in posttraumatic stress disorder." The recording is available free to all AAPP members.

The Psychiatric and Neurologic Medication Pipeline is one of the most anticipated sessions of #AAPP2025! Dr. Saklad is back today at 10:00 AM Mountain to bring us his insights and wisdom. #SLC #psychpharm

It's the final day of #AAPP2025! We have loved hosting nearly 900 attendees in Salt Lake City and virtually. Check out the schedule for our final 3 sessions today. #psychpharmacy #SLC #ACPE #AnnualMeeting

The psychotropic medication landscape is constantly evolving. Hear about the unique benefits and limitations of dextromethorphan/bupropion, long-acting injectable risperidone, and serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate this afternoon during #AAPP2025. #psychpharmacy #ACPE #SLC

The ever-popular Clinical Pearls sessions are back today! #AAPP2025 attendees can attend two hours of clinical pearls programming. Congrats to our selected speakers, Jaden Dickinson, PharmD, BCPP; Brianne Mosley, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP; Kimberly Ehrhard, PharmD, BCPP; Alissa Scalise, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP; Roisin Sabol, PharmD; and Zoe Karavolis, PharmD, MPH, BCPP, CPH. #SLC #psychpharmacy #clinicalpearls

Today's #AAPP2025 session on Trauma Informed Care is sponsored by the bequest from late AAPP member, Kim Tallian. #aappfoundation #psychpharmacy

Attendees at #AAPP2025 are loving the Tardive Dyskinesia Learning Lab! This is free to attend and participants get to apply the AIMS assessment for hands-on learning. 2 learning lab sessions remain on Tuesday, April 28! #psychpharmacy #SLC #TD #learninglab

Come say hello to the AAPP Board of Directors and staff today during the mid-day networking session (12:30 PM Mountain)! There are SO many ways to connect with your psych pharmacy peers during #AAPP2025 #SLC #psychpharmacy

#AAPP2025 is off to a great start! Day 2 starts bright and early at 7:15 AM Mountain with an industry symposium with ACPE credit (open to everyone with an aapp.org account!). #ACPE #psychpharmacy #SLC

Starting soon (4:45 PM Mountain) is the Saklad Memorial Award presentation and the AAPP Forum on Our Future! This event will be livestreamed and is available to anyone with a login at aapp.org. (If you don't have one, create a free account). Join us to honor Dr. Deanna Kelly! #AAPP2025 #psychpharmacy #SLC

Congrats to the PharmD students who received a registration grant to #AAPP2025! #aappfoundation #psychpharmacy

Idea exchanges start at 10:00 AM Mountain! Which one are you attending? Topics include: The Antidepressant Black Box Warning in Youth, Management of Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults, and The Evolving Role of Neurology Clinical Pharmacists #AAPP2025 #psychpharmacy #saltlakecity

The AAPP Foundation is honored to be well represented at the AAPP 2025 Annual Meeting! Check out all of our activities and sponsorships. #aappfoundation #psychpharmacy #aapp2025

The National Institute of Mental Health is an excellent resource for broshures and fact sheets on mental health disorders for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Printed materials can even be ordered free of charge!

I volunteer because I want to improve the delivery of mental health services across our communities. I truly believe that pharmacists can be part of this change and that working with AAPP will help us to do so. - Michael Shuman, PharmD, BCPP

T-minus 2 days until the first official day of #AAPP2025! Who's getting excited?! #psychpharmacy #saltlakecity

Read the AAPP Foundation President's Spring 2025 message! #aappfoundation #psychpharmacy

Volunteering on a committee helps me meet Residency Director ASHP standards. It also allows me to bring updated knowledge and information to implement in my facility. - Courtney Iuppa, PharmD, BCPP

Build a long-acting injectable clinic that delivers clinical and financial results. This course teaches learners how to navigate billing, track key metrics, and make the case for profitability. Learn what it takes to scale your LAI services. #LAI

I’m a better psychiatric pharmacist because of this organization. The resources, connections, and opportunities AAPP offers have helped shape my professional journey in countless ways. - Michael McGuire, PharmD, BCPP

The Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP) is the foundation for the essential care that pharmacists provide to patients on a daily basis. Fifteen national pharmacy organizations have collaborated through the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) to revise the 2014 PPCP to reflect contemporary pharmacy practice today and into the future. These organizations are now seeking feedback on the revised draft PPCP from pharmacists across the profession to ensure that it is reflective of diverse pharmacy practice settings and the care being delivered. Your voice is important! Please contribute your feedback on or before 2/28 at 5 PM PT, by accessing the draft revised PPCP and a feedback survey. The estimated time to review the draft revised PPCP is 10 minutes, and the feedback survey is estimated to take up to 20 minutes to complete.

Volunteer where you’ll be happiest. Use it to help develop your skills as clinician, teacher, and/or researcher. - Chris Paxos, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP

Collaborating professionally with psychiatric pharmacists from across the country on different projects and tasks has led to additional opportunities for learning and growth, including a national publication. - Ashley Maister, BS, PharmD, BCPP

Practice, practice, practice! The 150-question mock exam lets you test your knowledge, pacing, and endurance before sitting for the BCPP certification exam. #BCPP #AAPP #examprep #psychpharmacy

"I was highly motivated to obtain my DEA to improve the efficiency of my workflow and practice with greater independence..." #WIWIK

Free toolkit provides tips and guidance in the following areas of Buprenorphine Initiation: Buprenorphine Treatment, Traditional Buprenorphine Initiation, Low Dose Overlap Initiation, Special Populations, Harm Reduction, Helpful Resources, and References

As psychiatric pharmacists, we pride ourselves in the top-notch patient care that we provide, sometimes even serving as the patient’s main source of contact and primary prescriber. We see ourselves as empathetic and work tirelessly to break down stigma. Every day we go into work and provide compassion to the patients we treat. Sometimes though, we tell our colleagues, friends, and family stories. Stories from our patients that make us laugh or roll our eyes, or stories about our patients – the ones we don’t like because they have [insert mental illness], and we don’t enjoy working with them. Have we ever stopped to think that maybe the person we’re talking to also suffers from that or a similar mental illness?

AAPP and coalition partners are calling on Congress and the Administration to take immediate action to prevent the erosion of ongoing efforts to address the nation’s mental health, suicide, and substance use crises. The statement emphasizes that we share a bipartisan goal of improving the health span of all Americans, including a strong and vigorous workforce, which requires protecting the critical functions of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

An Office of Management and Budget (OMB) document signals that the Trump administration may propose cutting Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding by more than 30%, including eliminating key mental health and substance use programs. It’s important to note this document is not final. The official budget is expected in late April or early May, and the appropriations process has to go through Congress. The National Council will continue advocating for critical program funding and will share updates as the process moves forward.

Authored by AAPP member Michael McGuire, PharmD, BCPP.

The 3/6/25 #JournalClub (1/2) presented "Single-Dose Psilocybin for Depression With Severe Treatment Resistance: An Open-Label Trial." The recording is available free to all AAPP members.

The Clozapine REMS program has notified all prescribers registered with the system that the clozapine manufacturers have formally replied to the FDA announcement of 2/24/2025.

Exams can be daunting. Let us help! Register for the Developing Effective Test-Taking Skills webinar to sharpen your skills. #BCPP #examprep #psychpharmacy #AAPP

Psychiatric and neurologic illnesses are highly prevalent and are often suboptimally treated. Pharmacists who focus on psychiatric and neurologic diseases improve outcomes for patients with these conditions. This is important in the current health care environment as most patients with psychiatric or neurologic conditions continue to have unmet needs. Read this MHC article to learn more about the value of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacists as part of the health care team. We hope you will consider exploring psychiatric and neurological pharmacy for your career.

AAPP members Haley Pals, Michelle Colvard and Tera Moore co-authored this study of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who received B-MOUD care in 2023 within the Veterans Health Administration.

The Clozapine REMS program has notified all prescribers registered with the system that the clozapine manufacturers have formally replied to the FDA announcement of 2/24/2025. The reply included a modification to eliminate the Clozapine REMS and update the prescribing information for clozapine. Upon FDA request, they have also developed a Medication Guide for patients which will be available pending FDA approval. They anticipate that the FDA will approve this modification in mid-June of 2025. The REMS Program emphasized that the newclozapinerems.com website will cease to operate upon the FDA’s acceptance of the modification. AAPP will be communicating this new information to pharmacy associations and other relevant stakeholders in order that they may fully understand the ramifications of this information.

ASAM and fellow advocacy groups with the Mental Health Liaison Group sent a letter to the House Energy & Commerce Committee leadership urging them to pass the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. Reauthorization of SUPPORT would enhance SUD treatment for patients and allocate resources to grow and strengthen the addiction treatment workforce. The House Energy & Commerce Committee adjourned its markup on Tuesday, April 8 without voting on legislation to reauthorize the landmark law to address the opioid crisis, the SUPPORT Act, and committee Republicans rejected a proposal from Democrats to advance most portions of the bipartisan, bicameral health deal that stalled in December after Elon Musk nixed the broader spending bill it was part of.

These free articles are intended to provide advice from experts for students, residents, and new practitioners.

Planning to sit for the BCPP exam? We've got resources! #BCPP #AAPP #examprep #psychpharmacy

At AAPP 2023, Dr. Jason Bonner, PhD presented on “Burnout Among Psychiatric Pharmacists: A Discussion of Drivers and Evidence-Based/informed Interventions to Improve Clinician Well-Being.” Dr. Bonner is a Clinical Health Psychologist in Primary Care-Mental Health Integration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the Durham VA Health Care System. He is a subject matter expert on stress, burnout, coping, well-being and resilience for pharmacy residency training and provides guidance on issues intersecting wellness and pharmacy training.

Psychiatric pharmacists can use their expertise in other industries, including continuing medical education (CME)! Learn more from Dr. Amber Lemons.

In a letter to Collins, AAPP emphasizes the impact of MH Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners in the VA system and in training residents for our already insufficient mental health workforce. AAPP expresses concern about the dismissal of VA employees and the impact on veterans access to benefits and care. Additionally, the letter emphasizes the extent of care that is delivered virtually and the harms of return-to-work mandates for pharmacists employed in virtual positions.

This study explored how access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) changed following Medicaid’s pandemic-era enrollment freeze unwinding. In this cross-sectional study of 2.4 million US adults who filled buprenorphine prescriptions, the early unwinding period was associated with declines in the level and trend in patients receiving buprenorphine fills, driven by Medicaid-paid prescriptions, partially offset by increased commercial insurance and self-pay fills. States with higher automated (ex parte) Medicaid renewal rates and more income verification sources for automated renewals showed greater stability in buprenorphine access, highlighting the role of state policies.

Representing the clozapine coalition, AAPP has recently outreached to all pharmacy association executives and appropriate staff urging communication with their members about the elimination of the clozapine REMS. In the communications distributed, pharmacies are encouraged to immediately change their operating procedures to remove all requirements related to clozapine dispensing and audit criteria that were part of the now-defunct REMS elements and to resume dispensing clozapine if they had previously stopped dispensing it. Please use the contents of this letter in your own advocacy with pharmacies to aid in the removal of barriers to this important medication.

The 3/6/25 #JournalClub (2/2) presented "Masked Taper With Behavioral Intervention for Discontinuation of Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonists: A Randomized Clinical Trial." The recording is available free to all AAPP members.

Grassroots advocacy can be one of the most influential tools that a profession can employ to bring issues to the attention of legislators at all levels from state to federal government. Policymakers must have input directly from those affected by a certain issue so they are aware of the needs in their communities and understand fully the ramifications of changes in policy. AAPP has provided a suite of tools and issue briefs to support you in your grassroots efforts whether at the state or federal level.

The 2023-2024 academic year has been another outstanding period for our AAPP collegiate chapters, showcasing their dedication to promoting psychiatric pharmacy and mental health awareness. Forty-seven collegiate chapters submitted annual reports, highlighting significant community service, campus activities, research, and professional growth. The 2023-2024 year also saw 64 in-person attendees to the annual AAPP meeting, with sixteen posters presented across eleven schools of pharmacy.

AAPP’s most recent strategic plan is chock full of goals surrounding the expansion of opportunities for psychiatric pharmacists. An aggressive and big assignment for sure, with no one solution that achieves the goal of growing awareness and inclusion of psychiatric pharmacists into treatment teams and health systems. After significant brainstorming and research, a plan emerged (see figure) in late 2021 that involved numerous committees and task forces conducting complimentary work simultaneously to achieve the end goal of increasing demand for psychiatric pharmacists.

Growing the psychiatric pharmacy workforce is one of AAPP’s significant priorities. Driving students into the field of pharmacy is a critical piece. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is working to attract students to the field by showcasing the diverse opportunities and rewards in pharmacy. We encourage you to offer to share your profession with the Pharmacy is Right For Me campaign just as Past President Julie Dopheide, PharmD, BCPP recently did. Also, please access the suite of materials and seek out opportunities to present the rewards of your career to students from middle school on up. Lastly, contribute by following and sharing their social media posts with your networks!

This week, AAPP is cosponsoring a Hill Day in conjunction with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA), and the National Association of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA). Advocates will be learning more about effective advocacy and review talking points for the Hill visits tomorrow focused on IRA implementation, PBM reform, and the future of pharmacy billing. Thank you to our psychiatric pharmacy advocates and fellow pharmacy associations for partnering with us on this critical event.

As LAIs play a bigger role in psychiatric care, it's time to train the next generation to lead with confidence. Learn to embed LAI education into pharmacy precepting and curricula - using hands-on strategies, case-based learning, & practical tools. #LAI

Every person’s journey to preparing for and achieving the Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) credential is unique. However, hundreds of BCPPs have shared tips and techniques that assisted in their success. Customize the tips below to your background and situation. Good Luck!

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have delayed the implementation of two final rules—expanding buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine and ensuring continuity of care for VA patients through telemedicine—until December 31, 2025. Originally set to take effect in February 2025, the delay aligns with a presidential regulatory freeze and allows for further review of legal and policy concerns. Importantly, this change will not impact patient access, as existing COVID-era telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances remain in place through the end of 2025.

AAPP Board member Danielle Stutzman, PharmD, BCPP, represents psychiatric pharmacy in expressing concerns about study's potential to perpetuate stigmatization of vaccines and, in particular, ASD.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently renewed the declaration that was set to expire on March 21, for 90 days. After more than 114,000 people died of overdose in 2023, the number fell to 84,000 in the 12-month period ending October 2024.

AAPP recently updated its career infographic geared toward students and residents considering a career in psychiatric pharmacy. The infographic highlights the availability of residencies, the residency experience, positive job placement, and keys to getting hired. We encourage you to share this broadly as we all work to grow the psychiatric pharmacy workforce.

AAPP is continuing its membership in the Get the Medications Right Institute (GTMRX) in 2025. GTMRX is focused on advancing recognition among providers and payors of the importance of systematic, evidence-based approaches to medications and their rationale use and the urgent need for payment and policy reform to advance access to and payment for person-centered CMM services.

One of the most important elements to advancing the profession of pharmacy is the commitment to lifelong learning. However, the delivery of continuing education has experienced relatively little change in the past 50 years in comparison to the changes we have seen in the profession of pharmacy.1 Traditionally, continuing education has been delivered through formal training with the learner motivated by the need to meet predetermined credits/hours set by the state boards of pharmacy or the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). Over the last several decades, new methods of delivering education to pharmacists and other health professionals have been proposed and integrated in some areas.

Obtaining a Controlled Substance Registration Certificate (DEA license) was encouraged by my site in order to help better serve our patient population. There are many practice settings where this would be useful for a pharmacist. Currently I work in an outpatient mental health clinic, where I work collaboratively with a variety of health care providers including psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and nurse practitioners. Having this certification means I can use the full scope of my knowledge and apply it to practice. Potentially this could work well in other collaborative settings including inpatient treatment, depending on the role of the pharmacist.

As a substance use disorder (SUD) pharmacist, I am frequently asked why I do what I do. I commonly reply, “I do it for the goosebump moments.” If you have ever been given the privilege to be a part of another person’s recovery, you may know what I mean by this. I am honored to advocate for, learn from, and nurture one of the most vulnerable and stigmatized patient populations in our healthcare system. The truth is my job may be the best kept secret in pharmacy.

This new video was developed by the Columbia University Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Division on Substance Use Disorders in partnership with the Opioid Response Network to help address the occurrence of wounds in people who use drugs, especially due to xylazine adulteration of the drug supply. The video provides a background on xylazine, the basics of wound healing, information on successful community outreach programs and educational resources for treatment.

This review concluded evidence was insufficient to make any clear determinations on the effectiveness of TIC approaches across any patient/client health related outcome, but this does not mean the individual interventions described are not potentially useful.

AAPP member Kristin Waters co-authored this updated systematic review on low dose buprenorphine initiation.

AAPP member Kelly Lee co-authored National Incidence of Physician Suicide and Associated Features which found a higher incidence of suicide for US female physicians compared to female nonphysicians.

Outside of conversations around suicide, disease progression, death, and dying are not commonly discussed in psychiatric practice. Palliative care for patients with mental illness is not typically considered beyond the context of terminal medical illness. While patients with SPMI (severe and persistent mental illness) would not routinely be considered terminally ill, many individuals who live with SPMI do not achieve adequate control of their symptoms and live with significant, distressing, and impairing problems.

FDA/CDER has announced new safety labeling for Clozaril with the main change being adding pericarditis to the boxed warning, Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC).