Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle for 08-05-2002
	Quote of the Day: Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. Helen Keller

Good day! The fidelity to a worthy purpose was to stay alive during the BWCA trip. My son and I are pictured here at the end of the trip…happy to have fulfilled our quest. I'll include some pictures of the scenery over the next few weeks. What else might constitute happiness? Elimination of all mosquitoes? A seniors' drug bill? Drug education to cause a reduction in drug abuse? (As you read on you will, unfortunately, be disappointed). However, there is good news on autistic children. A worthy purpos...hope you have one...hope you attain it...hope you are happy! ... Now to my worthy purpose…"the Prattle"...Enjoy!

1) Help for Autistic children from new antipsychotic drug
	I am sure that ANY help is desired help for these kids and their parents (who should be "sainted"). Let's hope that this sheds some light on the "canyons of the mind"...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=97&ncid=97&e=7&u=/hsn/20020731/hl_hsn/new_class_of_antipsychotic_drug_helps_severe_autism

2) DARE to think!

While in Pharmacy School I participated in Drug Education talks to grade school children as my fraternities community service outreach. I thought I was "doing good things". This was WAY before the DARE program started. I had the opportunity to observe the effects of DARE as my children were exposed to it and was shocked. Instead of maintaining a "healthy fear" of drugs….the discussions took away the fear, replaced it with a little knowledge and the feeling that the students "could handle it". Drugs and alcohol appeared to be the only things that my kids talked about during the many weeks of DARE. It really got their little minds churning on the subject. So too, their classmates….some of which are now incarcerated on drug charges. I have, thus, not been a DARE supporter for over 10 years…..this study reinforces my belief (and thus must be right!….that is how we judge these things).

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20020803/ap_on_he_me/schools_drugs_1&e=3

3) "Mosquitoes you will have always; until the end of time". 3) "Mosquitoes you will have always; until the end of time". While not truly biblical, this phrase sums up man's fight against the mosquito! The spraying and swatting will continue but the West Nile Virus continues to spread. Birds are a reservoir for the virus and move across the USA. Right now the virus seems to be making patients over 50 and those that are immune compromised deathly ill while the younger crowd experience more flu-like symptoms. With over 30 species of mosquitoes involved, I expect this to be a major public health problem and look to the development of a vaccine against it. With the liabilities that vaccine makers are facing, I would hope that the Federal Government limits their liability so that development and production can go forward.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/03/health/03NILE.html?todaysheadlines

4) Surprise…surprise….. the Senior's drug bill did not get out of the Senate….
	Last week everyone (except me) was sure that we would get a senior prescription drug benefit out of the Senate…. Maybe I should become a member of the Psychic Friends Network….

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/01/opinion/01THU3.html

5) 3 chains pull out of Mass Medicid due to pharmacy reimbursement rates Now Walgreen's may pull out of the Washington State program as well. The economics are clear...filling the Medicaid prescriptions cost these stores more than they make...the pharmacist's time costs about $1.00 per minute (when all is taken into consideration). Due to overhead (store, heat, light, technicians, etc) a $1.50 dispensing fee would buy about 1 minute of time and allow NOTHING for profit let alone that the store can expect a 3 month delay in paymen...Remind me again WHY I'd want to be part of this!...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=534&ncid=534&e=6&u=/ap/20020731/ap_on_he_me/state_budget_pharmacies_2 http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/020801/retail_walgreen_medicaid_1.html

6) Oregon has published its drug class reviews….
	PPI, NSAIDS, etc…..The State formulary takes place 8/1/02 and does NOT include Celebrex and other high dollar drugs…. It will be interesting to monitor their progress….(especially when we never hear much news out of Oregon here in Minnesota).

The article is at http://www.pharmscope.com/washwatch/ or you can find the reviews at http://www.ohppr.state.or.us/.

Have a GREAT week…don't forget to have some GREAT PURPOSE as well….we want happy campers! Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to ppp@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded).