UBC and Shoppers launch first-of-its kind fellowship to train pharmacists in addiction management

The University of British Columbia and Shoppers Drug Mart are launching Canada’s first fellowship program to train pharmacists in addiction management. The Shoppers Drug Mart Addiction Pharmacy Fellowship–funded by a $2-million donation from Shoppers–is part of North America’s largest addiction medicine fellowship program, which is based out of the university’s British Columbia Centre on Substance Abuse in Vancouver. "In partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart, the BC Centre on Substance Use is developing a comprehensive pharmacist training program that will mobilize expertise and new knowledge to benefit Canadians who use substances or with an addiction," says Cheyenne Johnson, executive director with the BCCSU. "By working together, we can achieve our shared goal of expanding capacity within the healthcare system from prevention to recovery to ultimately improve the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities who are impacted by addiction." Close to 19,400 Canadians died of opioid overdose between 2016 and 2020, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The fatalities spiked between April to September last year, just weeks after COVID-19 hit. During this time, there were more than 3,350 deadly overdoses, representing a 74% increase from the previous six months. Canadians have also reported consuming more alcohol during COVID-19, putting them at higher risk of alcohol use disorder–the most common yet frequently untreated untreated substance use disorder in Canada. "(Addiction) is a national problem, affecting our patients, customers, friends and family members,” said Shoppers’ president, Jeff Leger. “Over the past few years, our pharmacy teams have been called upon to help more and more patients struggling with opioid addiction. We want to continue to be a positive force for change, and believe today's announcement is another important step.” Access to evidence-based addiction treatment has been a longstanding and chronic need in the Canadian healthcare system, according to Shoppers’ press release. Education and training are critical in raising awareness among health professionals, including pharmacists, on how best to engage with patients, provide life-saving medications and positively impact health services to address substance use-related harms and close the treatment care gap that is leaving many Canadians behind. "At this time of heightened urgency comes increased responsibility to provide Canada's frontline health professionals with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in the lives of people affected by substance use and addiction," said Dr. Dermot Kelleher, dean of UBC's faculty of medicine, and vice-president, health, at UBC. "I am excited by Shoppers Drug Mart's decision to support the BCCSU's leadership in closing the current evidence-to-care gap to address a devastating health issue that is woven into the fabric of our society." The program, which ran as a pilot from 2018 to 2020 with one fellow, opens for applications on September 1.

UBC and Shoppers launch first-of-its kind fellowship to train pharmacists in addiction management

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