Episode release date: 5/14/2026
Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are life-saving, yet three-quarters of people who need them still can’t access them. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to expand treatment, especially in rural communities and those with the fewest treatment options. Working collaboratively or independently, they can improve access, timing, and patient choice for MOUD care, starting where patients and medications already are. This episode examines how pharmacy-based models are closing gaps in addiction care deserts, how pharmacists can strengthen interdisciplinary care teams, and why fair reimbursement for pharmacist services matters for sustaining care in the communities hit hardest by overdose.
Educational Objectives:
- State how pharmacist involvement impacts treatment outcomes.
- Describe how federal and state policy changes have enables expanded pharmacist roles in MOUD delivery and management.
- Examine system-level barriers and facilitators to scaling pharmacist-led MOUD services.
- Recognize opportunities for pharmacists to lead addiction care services, from training to clinical practice to implementation science.