1. (a)

   1. (1) The impaired pharmacist program authorized by Arkansas Code § 17-92-701 et seq., shall be administered by the ARPSG in accordance with guidelines set by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy.
   2. (2) The ARPSG shall serve as a diversion program to which the board may refer licensees where appropriate in lieu of or in addition to other disciplinary action, and also be a source of treatment, referral, and monitoring for pharmacists who desire to avail themselves of its services on a strictly voluntary basis.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The board shall appoint an executive committee of five (5) persons who are recovering pharmacists and members of the ARPSG.
   2. (2) The executive committee members shall serve three-year terms.
   3. (3) The executive committee is authorized to appoint subcommittees to assist in operations as needed, but all subcommittee actions are subject to review and approval of the executive committee.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The board shall also appoint an executive secretary who shall be a nonvoting member of the executive committee and who shall serve at the pleasure of the board.

   2. (2) The executive secretary shall be responsible for:

      1. (A) Administrative duties of the ARPSG; and
      2. (B) Supervision of ARPSG contracts and monitoring functions.
   3. (3) The executive secretary shall be compensated as may be determined by the board.

4. (d) ARPSG Executive Committee responsibilities. Subject to guidance and direction by the board, the ARPSG Executive Committee shall be responsible for:

   1. (1) Formulating and administering a program to monitor compliance by impaired pharmacists/pharmacy technicians with the recovery guidelines established by the ARPSG contract with the impaired pharmacist/pharmacy technician and approved by the board;
   2. (2) Appointing a member of the ARPSG as a monitor for impaired pharmacists/pharmacy technicians who are under contract with the ARPSG to supervise compliance with the recovery guidelines established in the contract and approved by the board;
   3. (3) Recommending to the board that an impaired pharmacist/pharmacy technician has progressed in recovery and can return to the practice of pharmacy on terms determined by the board without posing a threat to himself or herself or to the public;

   4. (4) Approving addiction professionals, addiction centers, and medical providers to perform evaluations of pharmacists/pharmacy technicians who:

      1. (A) Are ordered to participate in the ARPSG; or
      2. (B) Voluntarily request participation in the program;
   5. (5) Develop and administer requirements for personal drug testing of participants in the ARPSG;
   6. (6) Reviewing and monitoring information relating to the compliance of pharmacists/pharmacy technicians in the ARPSG;
   7. (7) Assisting the pharmacists’ professional association in publicizing the program; and
   8. (8) Preparing of reports for the board as requested.

Codification Notes: “ARPSG” means Arkansas Pharmacy Support Group.