Illicit drug users' views of a 'good' and 'bad' pharmacy service

Citation

Matheson C (1998) Illicit drug users' views of a 'good' and 'bad' pharmacy service. Journal of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 15 (2), pp. 104-112.

Abstract
The harm reduction strategies of providing clean injecting equipment to illicit drug users and the dispensing (sometimes daily under pharmacist supervision) of oral methadone has increased the contact between pharmacists and illicit drug users. This contract could be utilised to benefit the user. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 124 illicit drug users from all over Scotland to elicit their views on a good and bad pharmacy service and possible improvements. The personality and attitude characteristics of the pharmacist and staff, their rapport with the user and the atmosphere in the pharmacy emerged as important issues. Expectations of professional health services from pharmacies seemed low. Users wanted: privacy, to be treated like other customers, and more information on drugs. Since a positive interaction with staff is important to regular users, pharmacists could use positive relationships to deliver harm reduction messages in an informal way. Infrequent users may need a different approach.

Keywords
Consumer views; Drug misuse; Drug use, illicit; Great Britain; Harm reduction; Methadone; Pharmacies, community; Pharmacy services

Journal
Journal of Social and Administrative Pharmacy: Volume 15, Issue 2

People

Professor Catriona Matheson

Professor in Substance Use, Faculty of Social Sciences