Substance use disorders (SUDs) can affect anyone, just as cancer or any other numerous disease states out there. They are a result of many factors, including genetic risk factors, the ubiquity of alcohol, or the opioid epidemic. Pharmacists and future pharmacists have a duty to protect patients and make positive change in the profession.

The pharmacist’s role has evolved drastically over the past few decades. It’s become more apparent that pharmacists are an essential part of the health care team when promoting and delivering patient care services. With the ever-evolving profession and pharmacist’s role, diverse opportunities for all practitioners have arisen.

In early February, I had the opportunity to travel to Pierre, SD, for our chapter’s annual Legislative Days. It was such an exciting opportunity for me to learn more about the policy process, use my patient care skills, and form stronger connections with peers and faculty.

According to The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an eating disorder is a serious but treatable mental and physical illness that is characterized by highly distressing beliefs and behaviors related to body shape and weight. Eating disorders do not discriminate and can affect people of all genders and ages.¹ Nearly 1 in 10 people in the United States will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.

In March 2022 at the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Antonio, the APhA–ASP House of Delegates passed adopted New Business Item (NBI) 2022.1: Gender Expansive Rights, Education, and Advocacy. Within this adopted NBI, APhA–ASP encourages the improvement in care for gender-expansive patients by integrating gender-affirming therapy (GAT) into pharmacy school curriculum and supports the use of GAT in transgender and nonbinary (TNB) patients with an informed consent model.