The Missing Dose: Integrating Harm Reduction into Pharmacy Curriculums

Pharmacists are uniquely poised for harm reduction work due to their accessibility, medication expertise, and direct patient interaction. They can provide non-prescription syringes, dispense naloxone and medication for opioid use disorder, offer human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus testing, administer vaccines for hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, and prescribe pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Despite these advancements, ongoing barriers such as restrictive pharmacy policies and stigma persist, and gaps in education contribute to the problem. Currently, harm reduction education is underrepresented in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. This commentary highlights existing gaps in pharmacist training, emerging pilot programs, and makes practical recommendations for integration of harm reduction education, including minimal competencies, curricular mapping, and implementation strategies to facilitate uptake.