According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, (ASHP) an impending shortage of opioids, sedatives and paralytics will render the ventilators used to treat COVID-19 patients essentially useless. CEO of the society, Paul Abromowitz, outlined the medical health emergency to Vice President, Mike Pence, early this month and called for an immediate increase in the manufacture of these medications. The demand for these drugs, which are necessary to prevent rejection or dislodging of ventilators and breathing tubes, surged by 73 percent in March. The Drug Enforcement Administration has taken steps to increase production of some of the medications, but if demand continues to outpace supply, states may need to access the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) for them. Iowa Pharmacy Association Executive Vice President and CEO, Kate Gainer says, “With the increased use of these medications during the COVID-19 crisis, demand is quickly exceeding supply. Pharmacists in hospitals across the state are closely monitoring the supply of these medications and working with the full healthcare team to ensure patients can be safely ventilated when necessary.”