Career Path: Addiction Medicine Pharmacist – Council on Pharmacy Standards
CAREER SPOTLIGHT

Addiction Medicine Pharmacist

Serve on the front lines of the opioid crisis, providing expert, compassionate care to help patients on their path to recovery.

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The Clinical Expert on the Road to Recovery

An Addiction Medicine Pharmacist is a clinical specialist who provides comprehensive medication management for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). As an integral part of the care team, they design and manage treatment regimens, focusing on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and other evidence-based pharmacotherapies. They are experts in balancing efficacy with safety, managing complex drug interactions, and addressing co-occurring mental and physical health conditions.

Practicing in diverse settings from hospitals and behavioral health clinics to outpatient primary care and specialized treatment centers, these pharmacists are pivotal in implementing harm reduction strategies, such as naloxone dispensing. They are passionate advocates and educators, breaking down stigma and providing non-judgmental, patient-centered care that empowers individuals to achieve their recovery goals.

Core Responsibilities

  • MOUD/MAT Management

    Initiating, titrating, and monitoring medications like buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone to treat substance use disorders.

  • Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention

    Leading naloxone co-prescribing initiatives, educating patients and the community on overdose response, and providing sterile supplies.

  • Complex Pain Management

    Developing safe and effective pain management plans for patients with a history of SUD, minimizing risks while adequately treating pain.

  • Patient Counseling & Support

    Building trust and providing motivational interviewing and empathetic counseling to support patients throughout their recovery journey.

Your Certification Pathway to Addiction Medicine

Earning credentials in substance use disorders, behavioral health, and pain management demonstrates a deep commitment to this vulnerable patient population and validates your specialized skill set to employers and collaborators.

CPSUD

Certified Pharmacist in Substance Use Disorders

The essential credential for this role, validating your comprehensive expertise in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of addiction.

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CBHP

Certified Behavioral Health Pharmacist

Demonstrates your ability to manage co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety that are common in patients with SUDs.

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CPMP

Certified Pain Management Pharmacist

Validates your advanced skills in managing complex chronic and acute pain, a critical component of treating patients with opioid use disorder.

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A Day in the Life

The practice of an addiction medicine pharmacist is fast-paced, deeply collaborative, and makes a direct impact on public health.

Morning: Inpatient Consults

Round with the hospitalist team to manage a patient with alcohol withdrawal. Later, meet with a patient with opioid use disorder admitted for an infection to create a plan for continuing their buprenorphine.

Mid-Day: Outpatient Clinic

In a collaborative practice clinic, conduct a follow-up visit with a patient on long-acting injectable naltrexone for alcohol use disorder. Perform a separate visit to initiate treatment for a new patient.

Afternoon: Community Harm Reduction

Lead a training session at a local library on how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer naloxone. End the day by responding to a primary care physician’s e-consult about a patient with complex pain and SUD history.

Ready to Be a Part of the Solution?

A career in addiction medicine allows you to use your clinical skills to combat a public health crisis, restore lives, and heal communities. Your expertise is needed now more than ever.

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