Pharmacy Technicians and Opioid Crisis: Contributing to Prevention, Education, and Support

The pharmacy technicians and opioid crisis connection is becoming increasingly important as pharmacies take on a greater role in medication safety, overdose prevention, and patient support. Pharmacy technicians are often among the first healthcare professionals patients interact with when filling prescriptions, including prescriptions for controlled substances.

Although pharmacy technicians do not replace pharmacists in clinical decision-making, their position within the pharmacy workflow gives them important opportunities to support opioid safety. Depending on their training, workplace policies, and local regulations, pharmacy technicians may assist with prescription processing, medication histories, controlled-substance inventory, diversion prevention, naloxone services, and referrals to the pharmacist.

As the opioid crisis continues to affect communities around the world, understanding how pharmacy technicians can contribute to prevention, education, and support is increasingly important.

Understanding the Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis refers to the widespread harms associated with opioid use, including opioid misuse, opioid use disorder, and fatal and nonfatal overdoses.

Opioids include prescription medicines used to manage pain as well as illicit opioids. While prescription opioids can provide important benefits when appropriately used, they can also cause dependence, respiratory depression, and overdose.

The situation has also become more complicated because of the presence of highly potent synthetic opioids, particularly illicitly manufactured fentanyl, in some drug supplies.

Because pharmacies are directly involved in medication distribution, they are an important setting for opioid safety and overdose prevention.

Research has identified several pharmacy- and community-based strategies that can contribute to reducing opioid-related harm, including patient education, prescription monitoring, naloxone distribution, safe storage and disposal, and referral to appropriate treatment services.

Why Pharmacy Technicians Matter in Opioid Safety

Pharmacy technicians are often the first point of contact for patients in community pharmacies. They process prescriptions, communicate with patients, manage medication records, handle inventory, and support pharmacists in the dispensing process.

This places pharmacy technicians in a valuable position to contribute to opioid safety.

However, it is important to understand the limits of the role. A pharmacy technician's responsibilities vary according to their jurisdiction, training, employer policies, and scope of practice. Clinical assessment, prescribing, diagnosis, and pharmacist-level medication counseling remain outside the technician's role in many settings.

Instead, technicians can support opioid safety by identifying situations that require pharmacist attention and following established procedures.

For example, a technician may notice an unusual prescription pattern, a potential duplicate prescription, an issue with a controlled-substance prescription, or a patient who appears to have questions or concerns about their medication. Rather than making a clinical judgment independently, the technician can promptly refer the issue to the pharmacist.

Pharmacy Technicians and Opioid Crisis Prevention

One of the most important ways pharmacy technicians can contribute to the opioid crisis is through prevention.

Prevention starts with safe medication practices.

Pharmacy technicians can support pharmacists and pharmacy teams by:

• Accurately processing opioid prescriptions.
• Following controlled-substance procedures.
• Checking prescription information carefully.
• Maintaining accurate medication and inventory records.
• Following procedures for controlled-substance storage and security.
• Reporting discrepancies or unusual activity according to pharmacy policy.
• Supporting prescription monitoring processes where permitted.
• Identifying situations that require pharmacist review.
• Helping patients access appropriate pharmacy services.
• Supporting medication safety initiatives.

Pharmacy technicians have also been recognized as valuable participants in controlled-substance diversion prevention. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), for example, offers a Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate covering areas such as diversion risks, security controls, and vulnerabilities throughout the medication-use process.

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The Role of Pharmacy Technicians in Patient Education

Education is another important part of preventing opioid-related harm.

Pharmacy technicians should not provide clinical counseling beyond their authorized scope. However, they can support the pharmacist by recognizing when a patient may need additional information and directing the patient to the pharmacist.

For example, a patient may have questions about:

• How to take an opioid medication.
• Possible side effects.
• Safe storage.
• What to do with unused medication.
• The purpose of naloxone.
• Concerns about dependence or misuse.
• Other medications they are taking.

A technician can recognize the question and ensure the pharmacist is involved.

This simple interaction can be valuable because patients may not always feel comfortable approaching a pharmacist directly.

Pharmacy technicians can also contribute to a pharmacy culture where patients feel comfortable asking questions about controlled substances without fear of judgment.

Supporting Naloxone Access

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression during an opioid overdose.

Increasing access to naloxone is an important component of overdose prevention. The CDC recommends making naloxone available to people at increased risk of opioid overdose and emphasizes education for patients and caregivers.

Pharmacy technicians can support naloxone services in several ways, depending on local laws and their workplace responsibilities.

These may include:

• Processing naloxone prescriptions or pharmacy orders.
• Helping maintain naloxone inventory.
• Identifying situations where pharmacist involvement may be appropriate.
• Directing patients to the pharmacist for naloxone education.
• Supporting documentation and workflow.
• Participating in approved naloxone training programs.
• Helping ensure naloxone is readily available when needed.

Some jurisdictions allow trained pharmacy technicians to participate more directly in naloxone services, while others restrict these activities to pharmacists or other authorized professionals. Therefore, pharmacy technicians should always follow applicable laws and workplace protocols.

PTCB has previously supported initiatives focused on training pharmacy technicians in naloxone use and opioid-related medication safety.

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Preventing Controlled Substance Diversion

Controlled-substance diversion occurs when medications are obtained or used illegally or inappropriately.

Preventing diversion is an important responsibility within pharmacy practice.

Pharmacy technicians can contribute by following established procedures for:

• Receiving controlled substances.
• Storing medications securely.
• Processing prescriptions.
• Maintaining accurate inventory records.
• Documenting medication movement.
• Identifying discrepancies.
• Handling returns and medication waste.
• Reporting suspected diversion through appropriate channels.

Technicians may be particularly well positioned to notice unusual patterns because they are closely involved in prescription processing and inventory management.

However, technicians should never independently accuse a patient or colleague of diversion based solely on suspicion. Concerns should be documented and escalated according to workplace policies and applicable regulations.

PTCB's Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate specifically focuses on helping technicians understand diversion risks and strategies for protecting patients, pharmacies, and communities.

Recognizing Potential Medication-Related Risks

Pharmacy technicians may encounter information that warrants pharmacist attention.

For example, a technician may notice:

• Multiple prescriptions for controlled substances.
• Potential duplicate therapy.
• Early refill requests.
• Prescription discrepancies.
• Unusual prescription quantities.
• Problems involving prescriber information.
• Medication combinations that require pharmacist review.
• Repeated questions or concerns suggesting that a patient needs additional support.

These observations do not mean that a patient is misusing medication.

There can be legitimate explanations for many situations, including changes in therapy, travel, lost medication, insurance problems, or differences in prescribing.

The technician's role is therefore not to diagnose misuse but to recognize potential concerns and refer them to the pharmacist.

Pharmacy technicians have been identified as useful participants in prescription monitoring and opioid safety initiatives because they frequently encounter controlled-substance prescriptions and medication histories during routine pharmacy operations.

Supporting Patients Without Stigma

Perhaps one of the most important contributions pharmacy technicians can make is treating patients with dignity and respect.

Patients experiencing opioid use disorder or opioid-related problems may already face stigma from healthcare professionals, family members, and society.

Negative attitudes can discourage people from seeking help.

A pharmacy technician can help create a supportive environment by:

• Speaking respectfully to every patient.
• Avoiding judgmental language.
• Protecting patient privacy.
• Listening without making assumptions.
• Directing clinical questions to the pharmacist.
• Helping patients access appropriate resources.
• Treating substance use disorder as a health issue rather than a moral failure.

Research discussing pharmacy technicians and opioid-related care has highlighted the importance of avoiding stigma and recognizing the frequent contact technicians have with patients using opioids.

A respectful interaction may seem small, but it can influence whether a patient feels comfortable returning to the pharmacy and seeking help.

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Working With Pharmacists and the Healthcare Team

Addressing the opioid crisis requires teamwork.

Pharmacy technicians work as part of a broader healthcare team that may include pharmacists, physicians, nurses, addiction specialists, social workers, and public health professionals.

The technician's contribution is strongest when responsibilities are clearly defined.

A pharmacy technician can support the pharmacist by:

1. Processing prescriptions accurately.
2. Identifying workflow concerns.
3. Maintaining accurate records.
4. Supporting medication inventory management.
5. Following controlled-substance procedures.
6. Alerting the pharmacist to potential concerns.
7. Supporting naloxone-related services where permitted.
8. Helping maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.
9. Participating in relevant education and training.

Research has shown that pharmacy-based opioid prevention programs can incorporate pharmacy technicians into training and screening workflows, although the exact responsibilities vary by setting.

Training and Career Development for Pharmacy Technicians

As pharmacy technician roles continue to evolve, additional education can help technicians contribute more effectively to medication safety.

Technicians interested in opioid-related practice can consider education in areas such as:

• Controlled-substance management.
• Medication safety.
• Naloxone and overdose prevention.
• Substance use disorder awareness.
• Prescription monitoring.
• Controlled-substance diversion prevention.
• Patient communication.
• Continuing education.
• Pharmacy law and regulations.

The PTCB Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Certificate is one example of specialized training available to eligible pharmacy technicians. It focuses on diversion prevention strategies and DEA requirements.

Pharmacy technicians should also understand that certification and scope-of-practice requirements differ between countries, states, and other jurisdictions.

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Challenges Pharmacy Technicians May Face

Although pharmacy technicians can make meaningful contributions to opioid safety, several challenges exist.

Limited Scope of Practice

Technicians cannot perform every clinical function. Their responsibilities must remain within the limits of their training and applicable regulations.

Inadequate Training

Not every pharmacy technician receives specialized training in opioid safety, naloxone, or substance use disorder.

Stigma

Patients may be reluctant to discuss opioid use because they fear being judged.

Workload

Busy pharmacy environments can make it difficult for technicians to devote additional time to education and prevention activities.

Changing Regulations

Controlled-substance and naloxone regulations can differ significantly between jurisdictions and may change over time.

These challenges highlight the importance of appropriate training, clear workplace protocols, pharmacist supervision, and adequate staffing.

How Pharmacy Technicians Can Make a Difference

The opioid crisis is a complex public health problem, and no single healthcare professional can solve it alone.

However, pharmacy technicians can contribute meaningfully through everyday actions.

A technician who carefully processes a prescription may help prevent an error.

A technician who notices a controlled-substance discrepancy may help prevent diversion.

A technician who directs a patient to the pharmacist for naloxone information may help increase access to an overdose-reversing medication.

A technician who treats a patient without stigma may help create an environment where that person feels safe seeking care.

These contributions demonstrate why pharmacy technicians are an important part of the healthcare workforce.

Conclusion

The connection between pharmacy technicians and opioid crisis extends far beyond dispensing medications. Pharmacy technicians can support opioid safety through accurate prescription processing, controlled-substance management, diversion prevention, naloxone services, patient support, and collaboration with pharmacists.

Their role will vary depending on local regulations, training, and workplace policies, but the opportunity to contribute is significant.

As the healthcare system continues to respond to opioid-related harm, pharmacy technicians can strengthen their impact by pursuing relevant education, staying informed about regulations, and developing strong communication and medication-safety skills.

The opioid crisis requires a coordinated response from the entire healthcare system. Pharmacy technicians may not make every clinical decision, but their position within the pharmacy gives them an important opportunity to support safer medication use and better patient care.

Note: The specific duties pharmacy technicians may perform in opioid prevention, naloxone services, prescription monitoring, and controlled-substance management depend on local law, scope of practice, training, and employer policies.