'I don't think we realized': Pikeville pharmacy combats opioid use with CBD products

In the midst of the national opioid crisis, two pharmacists from Pikeville are working to provide non-addictive options for people who use pain medication.

"Our area has been hit really hard by the opioid crisis," said pharmacist Donovan Bentley. "I don't think we really realized what we were going to be coming out of pharmacy school and having to try to deal with."

Pikeville Discount Drug, owned by Bentley and Colby Newsome, is now offering Ananda Professionals products. Those products are cannabidiol (CBD) pain management options, grown and produced in Kentucky.

"We wanted to be able to give them an option that would help them deal with their pain, but also would not have an addictive quality to it," Bentley said.

Bentley said his store has capsules, balms and more. He said this provides more options for people who are trying to find a safer, non-addictive option for pain management or issues like anxiety.

"That allowed us to kind of open up a few relationships with some local doctors," Bentley said. "We've been able to work back and forth with them and try to reduce the amount of opioid medications being dispensed and filled."

He said consulting doctors when considering CBD options is important. He also said, contrary to many misconceptions the CBD products do not have the psychoactive impact of marijuana.