News and Insights for Psychiatric Pharmacists

AAPP joined the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) and other organizations to comment on the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The letter expresses concerns regarding the proposed definition of “professional degrees” in relation to other graduate degree programs. The concern is that the proposed framework and definition of “professional degrees” does not encompass the range of programs that fit the professional designation. AAPP has additional concern that definition change will severely impact individuals joining the behavioral health workforce, an area of healthcare already understaffed.

This blog series by the Resident and New Practitioner Committee is targeted to psychiatric pharmacists seeking their first or a new position. This blog explores opportunities in academia.

This blog series by the Resident and New Practitioner Committee is targeted to psychiatric pharmacists seeking their first or a new position. This blog explores opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.

Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was consistently associated with reduced risks of developing various incident SUDs, suggesting a broad preventive effect across multiple substance types.

Psych pharmacists stand up for the unseen. That’s powerful. #choosepsychpharmacy #pharmd #psychpharm #AAPP

Calling all subject matter experts! AAPP is encouraging all members to self-nominate for a presentation or author opportunity in AAPP’s upcoming events and products. Mark your submission as final by the March 12, 2026, deadline.

The early registration deadline is coming up soon! Register by March 19 to pay the lowest rates for AAPP 2026. The AAPP Annual Meeting is the premier event for psychiatric pharmacotherapy education and networking, and we can't wait to host AAPP 2026 in the Pacific Northwest, April 19-22, 2026.

We're pleased to offer free virtual registration for AAPP 2026 for AAPP student members! To take advantage of this offer, student members must register by March 19.

Dr. Stephen R. Saklad, PharmD, BCPP, reflects on his consistent focus to expand and document the delivery of rational, research derived care to help patients.

AAPP's newest member profile showcases psychiatric pharmacist impact through a psychotropic stewardship program demonstrating optimization of medication therapy for high-risk and clinically complex patients.

If you missed any of the previous Resident Journal Club presentations or would like to revisit a session, recordings are available for you to listen and review at your convenience. Once registered, you can access the recordings, presentations, and article links on the Journal Club page.

Kennedy has continued to spread misinformation and push politicised agendas at the expense of the country’s most vulnerable.

The AAPP Residents and New Practitioners Committee is pleased to provide a suggested reading list of the top references as a service and as a forum for member discussion. Consider these resources as a foundation for your reference library.

Studying for the BCPP exam? Test your knowledge with our 150-question mock exam! #psychpharmacy #BCPP #AAPP #BPS #boardcertification

In our newest member profile showcasing psychiatric pharmacist impact, learn how Dr. Kesoma Holcomb worked with her health system to create an opioid and psychotropic stewardship program that continues to optimize medication therapy for high-risk and clinically complex patients who are medically ill and have co-occurring mental health and chronic pain conditions.

The toolkit outlines strategies for promoting early identification and intervention, improving access through service coordination and integration, and building workforce capacity to meet children’s behavioral health needs. It also provides an overview of key behavioral health services and models of care, along with resources to support state implementation of EPSDT requirements.

NAMI has worked with experts to create 23 flexible lessons about mental health literacy for middle school classrooms. Supporting early intervention is one of the best ways to address the youth mental health crisis. Learn more and ask your local schools to add mental health literacy to their curriculum.

Stream this expert-led discussion on the expanding role of digital therapeutics in treating mental health conditions. Watch the recording and stay ahead in this fast-evolving field! Visit the course page to watch the webinar or learn more and register.

A randomized clinical trial of 59 male participants with opioid use disorder found that those receiving 10 supervised yoga sessions over 14 days alongside standard buprenorphine treatment had achieved withdrawal stabilization 4.4 times faster than controls, with median stabilization occurring in five days compared to nine.

A study that surveyed college students tested whether alcohol and cannabis co-use and cannabis use characteristics (frequency and quantity) relate to different levels of heavy drinking. Heavy drinking was more common on co-use days than alcohol-only days (33% higher odds of heavy episodic and 52% higher odds of high-intensity vs. moderate).

A research summary from the Recovery Research Institute highlights a Phase 2 randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of heart rate variability biofeedback, a breathing-based intervention, in reducing stress-related craving and substance use among people in remission.

A majority of participants supported psychedelics as a treatment and would accept receiving psychedelics as a treatment.

New research published in JAMA Network Open found a correlation between China’s crackdowns on illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and the recent decline in U.S. overdose deaths, suggesting that Chinese regulatory enforcement may have disrupted the supply chain driving the opioid crisis.

In this survey study of clinician-reported problems initiating BUP treatment, clinicians working in high-volume noninpatient settings reported more problems initiating BUP in patients using fentanyl, and many reported changing their clinical practices in response to these problems.

Through this Consensus Statement, the Task Force identified circumstances in which the selective elimination of certain psychotropic medications may be clinically indicated.

The Brookings Institution released a white paper examining how the Drug Enforcement Administration’s quota and inventory controls impact certain drug shortages.

Three updated KFF analyses examine the latest trends in deaths from opioid overdoses, suicide and alcohol, using newly released final data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Psych pharmacists explain meds. Patients take control. #choosepsychpharmacy #pharmd #psychpharm #AAPP

Through expert guidance, participants will refine their presentation skills and learn how to captivate audiences. This 2-hour program with ACPE credit provides a unique opportunity to gain practical tools to elevate speaking abilities, enhance your expertise and confidence, and make you a standout voice in the field of psychiatric pharmacy. Don't miss this opportunity to learn!

The board of pharmacy specialties identifies pharmacists who are qualified for advanced practice based on rigorous standards. Learn more about the path to becoming a board certified psychiatric pharmacist (BCPP).

Practice, practice, practice! The 150-question mock exam lets you test your knowledge, pacing, and endurance before sitting for the BCPP certification exam. #BCPP #AAPP #examprep #psychpharmacy

This blog series by the Resident and New Practitioner Committee is targeted to psychiatric pharmacists seeking their first or a new position. This blog explores opportunities in community health systems.

This free Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) guide provides webinars introducing CMM and helpful tools for implementing CMM.

Struggling ➝ stable ➝ thriving. Psych pharmacists make it happen. #choosepsychpharmacy #pharmd #psychpharm #AAPP

AAPP and the AAPP Foundation are pleased to be offering a complimentary, 2-hour workshop: Cultivating Expertise: Enhancing Presentation Design and Speaker Development in Psychiatric Pharmacists. Earn ACPE credit and make yourself a standout voice in the field of psychiatric pharmacy!

Pharmacy careers change lives. Learn if a job as a pharmacist is right for you and how you can help people live better, healthier lives. #Pharmacy #PsychPharm

Improve your peer review skills! Discover the components to evaluate, the role of the peer reviewer, the skills necessary to critically evaluate a manuscript, and how to provide feedback to authors and journal editors.

"Pharmacy school taught us how to manage complex pharmacotherapy, but it did not teach us how to budget, navigate major financial decisions, or invest. These are the financial lessons I wish I learned earlier in my career, because even a little awareness from the start can prevent a lot of stress later."

AAPP recently published a statement of support for plaintiffs in American Academy of Pediatrics et al. v. Kennedy Jr., et al. Login to read the support letter and to see all recent comment letters.

In AAPP's two new practice setting videos, Jacqueline Parizher, PharmD, reviews her role and impact as an outreach pharmacist working on the ground with individuals living with substance use disorders while Kesoma Holcomb, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, explains her role in combining internal medicine with opioid and psychotropic stewardship.

AAPP is pleased to announce an additional AAPP Student Chapter bringing the total number of student chapters to 48! University of Florida, advised by AAPP member John Markowitz, PharmD, is the newest student chapter. Congratulations and welcome to AAPP Collegiate Chapter at University of Florida!

"One of the most important lessons I have learned is that professional development does not depend on having a specific title or years of clinical experience but instead depends on early intention and curiosity."

Mental Health Clinician (MHC) is a valuable resource for psychiatric practitioners and researchers and contributors are key to its success. Please visit the linked MHC webpage to recognize all of the individuals honored.