O Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions (ICAD) and the associations representing pharmacies sign this Monday the protocol that will allow the methadone times per ser dispensed and administered in community pharmacies,thirteen years after the interruption of the model, during the intervention of the troika, in the government of Pedro Passos Coelho.
According to the ICAD annual report, in 2023 there were a total of 11,501 people integrated into therapeutic programs using methadone.
For João Goulão, president of the institute, this change translates into a “greater convenience” for users and less interference with their routines.
The president of the National Pharmacy Association, Ema Paulino, also highlights the impact of this proximity. Pharmacies, he says, have qualified teams, extended opening hours and a presence in practically the entire territory — conditions that can alleviate pressure on treatment centers and facilitate the social reintegration of those in a therapeutic program. The start-up will take place in areas identified as priorities, later this yearwith gradual expansion until 2026.
The model will follow standards defined by Order of Pharmacists and will only involve establishments with properly trained professionals. Currently, methadone prescription is provided mainly by ICAD services, complemented by non-governmental organizations and mobile units that guarantee daily intake for those who face greater travel difficulties.
The signing session will feature presence of the Secretary of State for HealthAna Povo, in addition to leaders of Infarmed and the Order of Pharmacistsin a sign of institutional alignment around this new stage of harm reduction policy.
According to the ICAD annual report, in 2023 there were a total of 11,501 people integrated into therapeutic programs using methadone.
O Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions (ICAD) and the associations representing pharmacies sign this Monday the protocol that will allow the methadone times per ser dispensed and administered in community pharmaciesmore than a decade after the model was interrupted during the troika intervention.
For João Goulão, president of the institute, this change translates into a “greater convenience” for users and less interference with their routines.
The president of the National Pharmacy Association, Ema Paulino, also highlights the impact of this proximity. Pharmacies, he says, have qualified teams, extended opening hours and a presence in practically the entire territory — conditions that can alleviate pressure on treatment centers and facilitate the social reintegration of those in a therapeutic program. The start-up will take place in areas identified as priorities, later this yearwith gradual expansion until 2026.
The model will follow standards defined by Order of Pharmacists and will only involve establishments with properly trained professionals. Currently, methadone prescription is provided mainly by ICAD services, complemented by non-governmental organizations and mobile units that guarantee daily intake for those who face greater travel difficulties.
The signing session will feature presence of the Secretary of State for HealthAna Povo, in addition to leaders of Infarmed and the Order of Pharmacistsin a sign of institutional alignment around this new stage of harm reduction policy.