By now, many of you have read this story about Ashleigh Anderson, published this morning by USAToday.

This story is as heartbreaking now as it was in 2021. No pharmacist at anytime, anywhere, should feel they need to put their work duties over any health concerns they are experiencing, under any circumstances.

APhA is the oldest national professional association in pharmacy. Founded in 1852, much of what we know as quality in the profession can be directly attributed to APhA’s efforts—for example, establishment and publishing of a National Formulary, the writing and revising over the years of the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, collaboration in creating and publishing the Oath of a Pharmacist, and the driver of quality health care, products, services, and standards related to medication use.

Guest blog from Valerie Prince, President of APhA

The numbers on opioid use disorder (OUD) alone paint a grim picture. Opioids are tied to over three-quarters of drug overdose deaths. More than a million people have died in the United States from fatal opioid overdoses in the last two decades. We lost 80,000 lives to opioid overdoses in 2021 alone.

APhA stands with the global community today on the 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day. It’s an important opportunity to raise awareness about HIV infection, honor the lives affected by the epidemic, and commit to working toward eliminating HIV as a public health threat.

Dear Member, 

Last week I spent a few days in Kansas City meeting with pharmacists, some of whom were part of the walk-out that has been reported in the media. 

I wanted to write today to share some reflections on my visit and what APhA is doing to be part of the solution.