News and Insights for Psychiatric Pharmacists

The mock exam is composed of 150 questions based on the content domains and knowledge statements included in the BPS content outline. Register today and practice, practice, practice!

This FREE 4-hour course translates the Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering into practical strategies for safer tapering. The course includes interactive, case-based activities centered on real-world clinical scenarios to help learners practice guideline implementation across diverse populations. It offers 4 hours of ACPE credit and is available until 5/19/2029.

Help AAPP recognize excellence in patient care through your nomination for the Advancing Patient Care award recognizing individual member efforts and accomplishments in increasing patient access to high quality mental health care in exceptional and distinctive ways. Nominations close 10/1/2026.

The Drug Enforcement Administration steps to temporarily ban supplements containing a synthetic version of kratom. The agency said it plans to classify an addictive psychoactive compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, in the same category as heroin and LSD — drugs that are illegal to buy or sell. This temporary scheduling action does not apply to botanical kratom products that contain naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold. Instead, it targets synthesized products and those containing elevated concentrations of 7-OH as outlined in the temporary scheduling order. DEA believes these substances pose an imminent threat to public safety given their effects are highly unpredictable. Once the temporary scheduling orders take effect, the manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of covered 7-OH substances will become subject to criminal, civil, and administrative provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.

These findings provide important reassurance regarding the safety of indicated paracetamol use during pregnancy.

Meetings are a cornerstone of effective leadership, collaboration, and decision-making, yet many professionals receive little formal training. This 3-part, live virtual workshop will fill the knowledge gap and improve your skills! The workshop is limited to 20 learners, and seats are filling up. Learn more and register today!

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.

Avoiding difficult conversations can lead to stress, reduced engagement, and low morale. Dr. Maria Blaze shares important tips to help you navigate.

There are 50 Pharmacy schools across the country that have AAPP Student Chapters, and more are joining every year! Check out the AAPP website for a list of existing chapters. Think about reaching out to a nearby chapter to collaborate on an upcoming activity, or for ideas on activities that could be done within your own organization.

Learn how psychiatric pharmacists implementing psychotropic stewardship in youth increases safety, follow up, and coordination of care while reducing health care costs.

Learn all about Antipsychotic Long-Acting Injectable Adverse Effects, Mitigation Strategies, and Monitoring! This is one of six modules in our complimentary Psychotropic LAI Training Program. Register today and get access to the full program and LAI resources.

The Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) recently convened national pharmacy organization leaders, including AAPP Incoming President Suzie Harris and Executive Director Brenda Schimenti, for a full day meeting focused on “Increasing Access and Improving Patient Care Outcomes with Technology” to examine how technology, policy, and communication can be leveraged to strengthen patient care across settings. Throughout the day, participants explored real world models and national strategies in three core areas: rural health transformation, health information technology and interoperability, and the critical role of pharmacists as trusted messengers in today’s healthcare environment. The meeting concluded with a structured “Takeaways and Next Steps” discussion, during which participants identified key commitments and areas for follow up work.

Last week, SAMHSA issued an advisory and Dear Colleague letter outlining how pharmacists can support expanded access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). It describes expansive opportunities for pharmacists to integrate MOUD treatment into their practices, support collaborative and team-based care, maintain and expand the ordering of MOUD, and address barriers to providing OUD treatment services in pharmacies. AAPP is working with fellow national pharmacy associations to encourage state pharmacy association leaders to aggressively pursue legislative initiatives in their states to enable expansion in pharmacist MOUD services.

This 2-hour webinar focuses on developing appropriate techniques for answering standardized questions more accurately, identifying common issues in testing that may be hurting your performance, and analyzing your testing performance to improve accuracy, pacing, and endurance. Level up your test-taking skills!

This free collection of essentials provides resources, references, and clinical pearls for practitioners beginning to practice in psychiatry.

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.

A new study in JAMA tracking nearly 28,500 opioid overdose survivors found that 8.6% died and 21.2% had another overdose within a year of an emergency department visit.

SAMHSA’s new advisory addresses cannabis use disorder across the lifespan, including during pregnancy.

A landmark trial published in The Lancet found that once-weekly semaglutide, the medication marketed as Ozempic, significantly reduced heavy-drinking days among people with alcohol use disorder and obesity.

H.R.1 will require states to conduct Medicaid eligibility redeterminations for the expansion population every six months beginning in 2027, doubling the current renewal frequency.

Do you want to gain confidence in how you plan, lead, and participate in meetings? If so, this educational program is for you! Earn ACPE credit while you improve your meeting skills during this 3-part, live virtual workshop! This exclusive workshop is limited to just 20 learners, and the first session is Sept. 9. Register now to secure your spot!

This Introductory Guide for Families highlights common experiences of family members who are navigating mental health and/or substance use treatment and recovery supports with their loved ones.

About 1 in 8 young adults ages 18 to 25 have had suicidal thoughts or made plans or attempts to end their life. Among them, white young people are much more likely to access any sort of mental health treatment than their Asian, Black, or Latino peers, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics.

Co-authored by AAPP member Zoe Karavolis, PharmD, MPH, BCPP.

If only there were more time in a day. In this video, Azita Alipour, assistant professor, shares guidance on time management for AAPP members.

Tianeptine or “gas station heroin” is readily available and a public health concern. Access this toolkit focused on mechanism of misuse, clinical presentation, and management of acute intoxication and withdrawal among other timely topics.

Learn all about Antipsychotic Long-Acting Injectable Preparation, Administration, and Storage! This is one of six modules in our complimentary Psychotropic LAI Training Program. Register today and get access to the full program and LAI resources.

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

Mark your calendars for this upcoming webinar: "Pharmacists Must Lead Again: Making Clozapine TDM Standard Practice" which is available for free to all members. Register now!

Screening for gambling disorder and other psychiatric conditions could help mitigate related harms.

This study developed a quantitative analytical method to measure the blood concentration of xylazine and its metabolites, fentanyl and its metabolite, and medetomidine and its metabolite.

The present findings of this meta-analysis underscore the importance of evaluating a continuum of outcomes rather than focusing solely on abstinence in RCTs.

This publication aims to evaluate the current evidence on BZD tapering and outline key research recommendations.

This publication is the result of two years of rigorous research, surveys, and interviews. It provides valuable insights into what makes children's needs complex and offers practical guidance for better understanding and supporting them.

Widely known as "gas station heroin," tianeptine is illegal or unapproved for medical use in the U.S. but readily available in unregulated convenience stores and online. AAPP and author Sarah Thomason are providing an important toolkit addressing tianeptine’s mechanism of misuse, clinical presentation, and management of acute intoxication and withdrawal among other topics. Check out this timely member resource today.

Trauma-focused CBTp is safe, highly acceptable, and effective in people with co-occurring psychosis and PTSD.

This study found credible evidence that daily cannabis use is a contributory cause of psychosis.

Over 2000 participants have completed our Psychotropic LAI Training Program. Join the ranks and start today! This grant-funded activity is offered complimentary and participants gain access to numerous LAI resources along with 6 educational webinars.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved another over-the-counter (OTC) intranasal naloxone product, Rextovy, a 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. Consumers may directly purchase this product without a prescription in places such as pharmacies, convenience stores, and online.

Telehealth utilization increased 10.1% across the U.S. from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first three months of 2026, a new report from Fair Health found. Telehealth utilization, measured as a percentage of medical claim lines, increased from 5.01% of medical claim lines in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 5.51% in Q1 2026. The relative increase was 12% in the Midwest, 11.8% in the Northeast, 9% in the South and 8.1% in the West, Fair Health data indicated.

How about some trivia? How many meetings does a chapter need to hold each year to maintain its status as a recognized AAPP collegiate chapter? The answer to this and many other chapter requirements can be found in the Student Chapter Formation Manual from the Student Chapter Hub.

You are invited to join us for the 6th Annual AAPP Summit, Oct. 1-2, 2026! This two-day, interactive, virtual conference provides knowledge and tools to improve the comprehensive care of patients with mental health disorders. Explore the session topics and plan to attend live.

Phenibut is sold as a supplement but has a high potential for abuse and dependency. Access this toolkit focused on mechanism of misuse, clinical presentation, and management of acute intoxication and withdrawal among other timely topics.