Acting president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Grant Kardachi said that the risk of abuse can be limited by direct involvement of pharmacists in the sale of codeine-ibuprofen analgesics.

Pharmacists have been given a chance to spread awareness about the risks that take place due to medication through the rescheduling of codeine-based products as Schedule 3 drugs since May 1.

Kardachi stated that if a pharmacist is involved then products will be explained about more and the problems that might be associated with the products will also be delved into.

He added that people generally gave a positive response when they were told about the side effects that a product might cause and what consequences can they have that might result in a serious problem.

People also start paying heed to the kind of medicines they are taking once they are educated about medication. And a lot of problems can be overcome if pharmacists directly get involved in selling a product and explaining about it to people.

Kardachi said, “It won’t necessarily stop it all, but I think it will go a long way towards improving better medication use of these products.”