Pilot program starts in seven municipalities to facilitate access to opioid addiction treatment.
By Rui Tavares Fonseca
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of a pharmacy shelf with medication boxes.
From November, patients in opioid treatment programs will be able to take methadone at participating community pharmacies, an initiative aimed at facilitating access and reducing travel.
The Institute for Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies (ICAD), in collaboration with INFARMED, the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF), the Association of Pharmacies of Portugal (AFP), and the Order of Pharmacists (OF), is launching the Program for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction with Methadone Hydrochloride in Community Pharmacies. The service, which requires prior referral and coordination with responsible health teams, begins in the municipalities of Albufeira, Loulé, Portalegre, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Santiago do Cacém, and Vila do Bispo, with plans for expansion throughout the country.
This measure aims to facilitate access to treatment, reduce the need for travel, and consequently encourage patient adherence. Involved pharmacists have received specific training to ensure safe methadone administration, while prescription and clinical supervision remain the responsibility of specialized structures.
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"The scale of this reality confirms the importance of developing increasingly accessible responses: in 2024, around 24,100 people were in treatment for drug use-related problems in the public outpatient treatment network, with heroin being the main substance of consumption identified in over 13,200 cases. Collaboration with pharmacies allows for an expansion of support capacity and favors recovery and social reintegration pathways."
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"Addictions require qualified, humanized, and person-centered responses. Community pharmacies have participated in various prevention and addiction control initiatives and enjoy the trust of communities. The possibility of undergoing treatment at the pharmacy, with privacy and confidentiality, can contribute to reducing stigma and making a concrete difference in the continuity of care."
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"important step"
The program aligns with the objectives of the National Plan for the Reduction of Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies 2030, strengthening access to healthcare and promoting recovery and social reintegration.
