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Pharmaceutical Postline
PHARMACEUTICAL POSTLINE
'turning on' Dear Sir: As a follow-up to your most informative January APhA Journal, I would like to inform you and your readers of a new drug which is currently being used by some on the West coast to "turn on." This agent is phencyclidine which is available for veterinary use under the trade name of Sernylan (Parke-Davis) . The compound is also know!! under the names of Sernyl, PCP and the common name used by those who take the drug, "Peace Caps1l1es." The fact that the drug is used in a powder form indicates that it is not obtained by diverting the veterinary product since ' that is only available as an injectable. Apparently the drug is being smuggled in from outside the U.S. The drug was originally studied in humans ~s an analgesic but bizarre behavioral effects caused discontinuance of human trials. These effects include inability to sustain directed thought and fluctuations in experiencing time and space. The agent has also been reported to cause hallucinations. The use of the drug on the west coast seefi1.s quite widespread and may extend to other parts of the country. Pharmacists who are aware of the use of the drug can assist authorities who are often bafHed by a new compound on"the "drug abuse scene." Paul Lofholm San Francisco, California
dation for the high quality of their presentations. Lawrence H. Baldinger Notre Dame, Indiana" Dear Sir: Your article entitled "A History of Drug Abuse" in the January 1968 issue of the APhA Journal is an unusually excellent survey of this subject over the past century. Ralph Holt Cheney Brooklyn, New York Dear Sir: I was very happy to see and read the January 1968 issue of your Journal which you sent my wife, a registered pharmacist and a member of APhA. " Recently we had a drug problem crop up in our local high school and community leaders turned to me for information concerning these psychotomimetic agents as well as for advice on how to combat the problem. It was then that I realized that while I could talk -for several hours on the side effects of Digitalis, I knew little more about marihuana than that it was illegal. " " A local committee has been formed to plan action to pre"v ent further occurrences among our young people. This group, composed of physicians, pharmacists, attorn~ys, ministers and educators as well as selected l<:ey officials, realizes that we must educate ourselves before we can educate others. Richard D. Grundy, MD Carson City, Nevada
the January issue
how much accuracy?
Dear Sir: The January 1968 issue of the APhA Journal on drugs of abuse is one of the ~nest issues ever published by the Association. Joseph M. Dillmann " Skokie, Illinois Dear Sir: During the present semester I am teaching a course, Synthetic Medicinals, for junior and senior premedical students. I have recommended strongly to the members of the class that they read the excellent series of articles which appeared in the January issue of the APhA Journal. All of the authors deserve special commen-
Dear Sir: Each issue of your fine Journal contains an ever increasing list of pharmaceutical product recalls. While there is no excuse for poor quality or workmanship, a further look at acceptable tolerances is necessary. What advantage to a patient is there if a drug contains exactly 5.000 mg of active ingredient and the physician prescribes it in the following manner: take one or two tablets every three to four hours as necessary. We might consider a scheme of inverse tolerances where the lower the amount of active ingredient per dosage form requires the highest accuracy,
106
Journal of the A~ERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
and vice versa, or else, recognized tolerances for each specific drug category. The enormous increase in price necessitated by this ( in some cases) needless accuracy should be weighed against the advantages of this ultraaccuracy. Albert I. Wertheimer West Lafayette, Indiana
educators and educa,tion Dear Sir: A great deal of energy is being directed by some pharmaceutical educators into the promotion of the idea of clinical pharmacy as the new area of practice for the pharmacist. Clinical pharmacy is chiefly practiced at the patient's bedside in the hospital and includes selecting the drugs of choice to treat specific illnesses, administering the drugs routinely, following up the patient's reactions to the drugs, etc. Whatever the merits of this proposal are, it is a coincidence that the same proponents for this new activity are those educators who advocated a five-yea~ program to prepare a pharmacist with a "well-rounded c~ltural education and with increased knowledge of drug actio"n so that he could advise the community physician about drugs." This expected consulting activity never developed. Now these educators say that the graduates of the "five-year pharmacy program are truly well-edu~ated and well-informed but that their professional work consists merely of "counting and pouring" so that their wonderful education is wasted in a c'blind alley of frustration." Wheth~r they realize it or not these educators are evaluating the results of their own efforts. If the five-year program really leads to " frustration, they should acknowledge that they are the misguided ones who formulated it. Their leadership has in effect been a failure thus far and certainly gives no feeling of confidence in what they now propose as their next solution for elevating pharmacy. Incidentally, these leaders say they are fearful that automation in dispensing will replace the dispensing by pharmacists. How can they reconcile present pharm~cel:ltical association ef-
forts to restrict certain o-t-c drugs to sale by a pharmacist only when they envisage "sale" of prescription-only drugs by a machine? There are real strengths and real weaknesses in present-day community pharmacy, but enough strength to give it a sound foundation of achievement and service. Ignatius J. Bellafiore Jamaica, New York
a word of praise Dear Sir: To begin your new year in the proper spirit, and mine, for I have been remiss for so long in writing that which I have believed for so longcongratulations on the APhA Journal. Only those who attempt to present highly professional journals recognize the time and effort that is devoted to
accomplishing this objective. You cover more material-in less spacethan any editor I know. You eliminate more "chaff" than most of us are capable of doing. You cover a subject in greater depth-in fewer pages-than I believed possible. Congratulations and keep up your excellent work! Richard S. Strommen Illinois Pharmaceutical Association
institutional pr wo colleges of pharmacy, as part of their public relations programs, have published successfully institutional advertisements stressing careers in pharmacy. The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Columbia University used an offer of free advertising space in Time magazine to create a full-page ad while the St. Louis College of Pharmacy sponsored an eight-page rotogravure section in the St. Louis PostDispatch. Taking advantage of Time's offer of free advertising space to institutions of higher learning, Columbia had the ad prepared by L.W. Frohlich, Intercon Inc., pharmaceutical advertising agency. Frohlich is a member of the college's board of trustees. The ad urged-"Join us on the health team to get this capsule off the ground. . . ." The St. Louis College promotion fea tured a color photo cover of the college's entrance and liberal use of pictures and informational copy.
T
fight·page rotogravure section on St. Louis College of Pharmacy carried in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
APhA
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY students:' wives are busy Wives of pharmacy students are learning the essentials of responsibility in preparation to taking their rightful and needed place in the community. Along with this they are developing their own abilities in leadership. The members of the University of Colorado Pharmacy Wives Club presented for the first time this year a $50 book scholarship to one of their students and plan to make this an annual project. Each f.all they serve as hostesses for their homecoming reception for the alumni, faculty members and students. And for their fall fund-raising activity they had a bake sale, selling to students and faculty members between classes. They also had a food and recipe auction and their final activity for the fall semester was the
Advertisement in November 1, 1967 issue of Time magazine by Columbia College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
presentation of a Christmas basket to a needy family. This is a busy club. The Aesculapians, pharmacy student wives of West Virginia University, made Christmas gifts for children in the pediatrics ward of University Hospital again this year. Their programs for the year were all planned in advance from September through April. The Pharmacy Wives Club at the University of Arkansas ,Medical Center reports that it has '26 members this year. They had as a fund-raising project a bingo party. A local bakery furnished cupcakes and the club furnished coffee and soft drinks. Local pharmacies provided prizes. They raised $123.80 and had a marvelous time. To date three more clubs are joining the Women's Auxiliary. The other 19 clubs have reported interesting and educational programs for 1967-68. Most of the clubs plan to have delegates attending the APhA annual meeting in Miami Beach, May 5-10. The future of our nation will largely depend upon the achievements of our young people. If we are successful in guaranteeing for those who follow the heritage of freedom, self-respect and personal incentive that has provided us with the thrill of fulfillment we enjoy today, we will have no worries about our course.
Helen Rowland, first vice president 7233 Parkwoods Drive Stockton, California Vol. NS8, No.3, March 1968
107
'turning on' Dear Sir: As a follow-up to your most informative January APhA Journal, I would like to inform you and your readers of a new drug which is currently being used by some on the West coast to "turn on." This agent is phencyclidine which is available for veterinary use under the trade name of Sernylan (Parke-Davis) . The compound is also know!! under the names of Sernyl, PCP and the common name used by those who take the drug, "Peace Caps1l1es." The fact that the drug is used in a powder form indicates that it is not obtained by diverting the veterinary product since ' that is only available as an injectable. Apparently the drug is being smuggled in from outside the U.S. The drug was originally studied in humans ~s an analgesic but bizarre behavioral effects caused discontinuance of human trials. These effects include inability to sustain directed thought and fluctuations in experiencing time and space. The agent has also been reported to cause hallucinations. The use of the drug on the west coast seefi1.s quite widespread and may extend to other parts of the country. Pharmacists who are aware of the use of the drug can assist authorities who are often bafHed by a new compound on"the "drug abuse scene." Paul Lofholm San Francisco, California
dation for the high quality of their presentations. Lawrence H. Baldinger Notre Dame, Indiana" Dear Sir: Your article entitled "A History of Drug Abuse" in the January 1968 issue of the APhA Journal is an unusually excellent survey of this subject over the past century. Ralph Holt Cheney Brooklyn, New York Dear Sir: I was very happy to see and read the January 1968 issue of your Journal which you sent my wife, a registered pharmacist and a member of APhA. " Recently we had a drug problem crop up in our local high school and community leaders turned to me for information concerning these psychotomimetic agents as well as for advice on how to combat the problem. It was then that I realized that while I could talk -for several hours on the side effects of Digitalis, I knew little more about marihuana than that it was illegal. " " A local committee has been formed to plan action to pre"v ent further occurrences among our young people. This group, composed of physicians, pharmacists, attorn~ys, ministers and educators as well as selected l<:ey officials, realizes that we must educate ourselves before we can educate others. Richard D. Grundy, MD Carson City, Nevada
the January issue
how much accuracy?
Dear Sir: The January 1968 issue of the APhA Journal on drugs of abuse is one of the ~nest issues ever published by the Association. Joseph M. Dillmann " Skokie, Illinois Dear Sir: During the present semester I am teaching a course, Synthetic Medicinals, for junior and senior premedical students. I have recommended strongly to the members of the class that they read the excellent series of articles which appeared in the January issue of the APhA Journal. All of the authors deserve special commen-
Dear Sir: Each issue of your fine Journal contains an ever increasing list of pharmaceutical product recalls. While there is no excuse for poor quality or workmanship, a further look at acceptable tolerances is necessary. What advantage to a patient is there if a drug contains exactly 5.000 mg of active ingredient and the physician prescribes it in the following manner: take one or two tablets every three to four hours as necessary. We might consider a scheme of inverse tolerances where the lower the amount of active ingredient per dosage form requires the highest accuracy,
106
Journal of the A~ERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
and vice versa, or else, recognized tolerances for each specific drug category. The enormous increase in price necessitated by this ( in some cases) needless accuracy should be weighed against the advantages of this ultraaccuracy. Albert I. Wertheimer West Lafayette, Indiana
educators and educa,tion Dear Sir: A great deal of energy is being directed by some pharmaceutical educators into the promotion of the idea of clinical pharmacy as the new area of practice for the pharmacist. Clinical pharmacy is chiefly practiced at the patient's bedside in the hospital and includes selecting the drugs of choice to treat specific illnesses, administering the drugs routinely, following up the patient's reactions to the drugs, etc. Whatever the merits of this proposal are, it is a coincidence that the same proponents for this new activity are those educators who advocated a five-yea~ program to prepare a pharmacist with a "well-rounded c~ltural education and with increased knowledge of drug actio"n so that he could advise the community physician about drugs." This expected consulting activity never developed. Now these educators say that the graduates of the "five-year pharmacy program are truly well-edu~ated and well-informed but that their professional work consists merely of "counting and pouring" so that their wonderful education is wasted in a c'blind alley of frustration." Wheth~r they realize it or not these educators are evaluating the results of their own efforts. If the five-year program really leads to " frustration, they should acknowledge that they are the misguided ones who formulated it. Their leadership has in effect been a failure thus far and certainly gives no feeling of confidence in what they now propose as their next solution for elevating pharmacy. Incidentally, these leaders say they are fearful that automation in dispensing will replace the dispensing by pharmacists. How can they reconcile present pharm~cel:ltical association ef-
forts to restrict certain o-t-c drugs to sale by a pharmacist only when they envisage "sale" of prescription-only drugs by a machine? There are real strengths and real weaknesses in present-day community pharmacy, but enough strength to give it a sound foundation of achievement and service. Ignatius J. Bellafiore Jamaica, New York
a word of praise Dear Sir: To begin your new year in the proper spirit, and mine, for I have been remiss for so long in writing that which I have believed for so longcongratulations on the APhA Journal. Only those who attempt to present highly professional journals recognize the time and effort that is devoted to
accomplishing this objective. You cover more material-in less spacethan any editor I know. You eliminate more "chaff" than most of us are capable of doing. You cover a subject in greater depth-in fewer pages-than I believed possible. Congratulations and keep up your excellent work! Richard S. Strommen Illinois Pharmaceutical Association
institutional pr wo colleges of pharmacy, as part of their public relations programs, have published successfully institutional advertisements stressing careers in pharmacy. The College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Columbia University used an offer of free advertising space in Time magazine to create a full-page ad while the St. Louis College of Pharmacy sponsored an eight-page rotogravure section in the St. Louis PostDispatch. Taking advantage of Time's offer of free advertising space to institutions of higher learning, Columbia had the ad prepared by L.W. Frohlich, Intercon Inc., pharmaceutical advertising agency. Frohlich is a member of the college's board of trustees. The ad urged-"Join us on the health team to get this capsule off the ground. . . ." The St. Louis College promotion fea tured a color photo cover of the college's entrance and liberal use of pictures and informational copy.
T
fight·page rotogravure section on St. Louis College of Pharmacy carried in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
APhA
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY students:' wives are busy Wives of pharmacy students are learning the essentials of responsibility in preparation to taking their rightful and needed place in the community. Along with this they are developing their own abilities in leadership. The members of the University of Colorado Pharmacy Wives Club presented for the first time this year a $50 book scholarship to one of their students and plan to make this an annual project. Each f.all they serve as hostesses for their homecoming reception for the alumni, faculty members and students. And for their fall fund-raising activity they had a bake sale, selling to students and faculty members between classes. They also had a food and recipe auction and their final activity for the fall semester was the
Advertisement in November 1, 1967 issue of Time magazine by Columbia College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
presentation of a Christmas basket to a needy family. This is a busy club. The Aesculapians, pharmacy student wives of West Virginia University, made Christmas gifts for children in the pediatrics ward of University Hospital again this year. Their programs for the year were all planned in advance from September through April. The Pharmacy Wives Club at the University of Arkansas ,Medical Center reports that it has '26 members this year. They had as a fund-raising project a bingo party. A local bakery furnished cupcakes and the club furnished coffee and soft drinks. Local pharmacies provided prizes. They raised $123.80 and had a marvelous time. To date three more clubs are joining the Women's Auxiliary. The other 19 clubs have reported interesting and educational programs for 1967-68. Most of the clubs plan to have delegates attending the APhA annual meeting in Miami Beach, May 5-10. The future of our nation will largely depend upon the achievements of our young people. If we are successful in guaranteeing for those who follow the heritage of freedom, self-respect and personal incentive that has provided us with the thrill of fulfillment we enjoy today, we will have no worries about our course.
Helen Rowland, first vice president 7233 Parkwoods Drive Stockton, California Vol. NS8, No.3, March 1968
107