Harm reduction practices in community pharmacies

Principal investigators: Dr. Louisa Picco and Prof. Suzanne Nielsen

Australia has considerable drug-related harm, including dependence, overdose, morbidity and
mortality. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers in Australia and have played a
long-standing and important role in the provision of harm reduction services. Community
pharmacists are well positioned to deliver harm reduction strategies, given their accessibility,
trusted relationships with patients, and expanding role in healthcare delivery.

This longitudinal research, through a series of online surveys, with a representative sample of
community pharmacies will provide an in-depth examination of the current harm reduction practices
in community pharmacies and explore the barriers and facilitators to undertaking these practices.
The first wave of data collection occurred in 2023 among pharmacists in Australia’s four most
populous states i.e. New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Wave 2 of data
collection commenced in January 2025 and is currently ongoing and is among a nationally
representative sample.

Findings from this research will offer valuable insights into the scope of harm reduction services
already being provided, as well as potential areas for service expansion. These insights will be used
to inform pharmacists, pharmacy support staff, policymakers and government about the current
landscape of harm reduction in Australian community pharmacies, highlighting gaps and
opportunities for improvement.

This project has been guided by an Advisory Board. Advisory Board members include Angelo Pricolo,
Beth Sproule, Chris Gough, Jacqui Richmond, Jarrod McMaugh, Javiera Martinez, Jef Bratberg, John
Jackson, Megan Kuleas, Peter Higgs, Pene Wood and Sarah Lord.

Project funders: National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grants (#2016909 and
#2025894)

Publications
Picco L, Xia T, Laing R, Grist E, Dostal J, Nielsen S. What influences Australian pharmacists’ decisions
to supply opioids? Results from a survey and randomised controlled factorial experiment Drug and
Alcohol Review. 2025 Mar;44(3):783-792 DOI: 10.1111/dar.14009

Ong E, Xia T, Laing R, Richmond J, Higgs P, Hayes M, Doyle JS, Nielsen S Picco L. Australian
community pharmacists’ preparedness to offer and discuss Hepatitis C testing and treatment. 2025
Feb;32(2):e70001. DOI: 10.1111/jvh.70001

Laing R, Tan PY, Xia T, Nielsen S, Picco L. Australian community pharmacists’ experiences of
prescription drug monitoring programs: Comparisons between mandated and non-mandated states.
J Am Pharm Assoc. 2025 Mar-Apr;65(2):102313. DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102313

Laing R, Xia T, Grist E, Dostal J, Nielsen S, Picco L. Correlates of stocking naloxone: A cross sectional
survey of community pharmacists. Int J Clin Pharm 2024 Dec;46(6):1362-1370. DOI:  10.1007/s11096-024-01773-3

Jung M, Picco L, Langford AV, Laing R, Dostal J, Nielsen S. Community phamracists' practices and perspectives on deprescribing high-risk psychotropic medicines: National survey findings. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2026 Feb 4. DOI: 10.1002/bcp.70466

Find out more
Contact Dr Louisa Picco
Monash Addiction Research Centre
Monash University Peninsula Campus
Moorooduc Hwy
Frankston, Victoria 3199
Australia
T: +61 3 9904 4422
E: louisa.picco@monash.edu