Last week, Naomi Schalit and John Christie of the Maine Center for Public Interesting Reporting authored an article titled, “Pharmacy employees take more than one-third of prescription drugs stolen in Maine.”

The article falsely characterized the profession of pharmacy by “investigating” the problem of prescription drug abuse through a microscopic lens.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported that addiction to prescription drugs in the United States affects all socioeconomic segments of our society. No group is immune to this problem and that includes health care workers such as pharmacists, nurses, physicians and dentists. However, there is currently no scientific evidence that drug abuse by pharmacists in Maine significantly exceeds that of other groups of health care professionals or the general population.

The profession of pharmacy is not ignoring this issue nor covering it up. In fact, all of the cases examined by Schalit and Christie are a matter of public record. The key question that Schalit and Christie never reported nor adequately answered in their “investigation” is this: “What is the profession of pharmacy in Maine doing to proactively address this problem and protect the public?”

The profession of pharmacy has taken a multifaceted and proactive approach to address this issue.

First, all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Maine must be licensed. The licensing process requires a verification of any past disciplinary actions in other states and jurisdictions. Furthermore, the licensing process requires a criminal background check.

Second, all retail pharmacies are required to install security cameras that monitor all critical areas of the pharmacy, including the prescription filling area and the narcotics safe 24 hours per day every day of the year. These recordings must be stored for a minimum of 30 days and must be produced to the Board of Pharmacy upon request.

Third, pharmacies must perform a complete inventory of all controlled substances twice per year and these records must be available for inspection by the board.

Fourth, all pharmacies must notify the board of termination of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician for any drug-related reason, including theft or diversion.

Fifth, the Board of Pharmacy must address public complaints against pharmacists.

Lastly, the Maine DEA, local law enforcement, both Colleges of Pharmacy in Maine, the Medical Professionals Health Program, the Maine Board of Pharmacy and the Maine Pharmacy Association provide education and awareness of these issues.

Pharmacists are consistently ranked among the most trusted professionals, second only to nurses in 2012, according to a national Gallup poll. Pharmacists are highly trusted medical professionals, with a minimum of six years of college education to receive their degrees and licenses.

The high respect the profession of pharmacy has earned from the public is based on honesty and high ethical standards.

Kenneth McCall, PharmD, RPh, president

Maine Pharmacy Association, Portland