Attention Seniors:STAMP Out Prescription Drug

Misuse & Abuse

Making the Best Use of Your Medicines

1c

Know Your Medicine

As long as I take the medication, it doesn’t matter at what time of day I take it.

True or False?

On days when I wake up feeling good, I don’t have to take my medication.

True or False?

I had the same cold last year, so I can use the antibiotics I had left over for this cold.

True or False?

We Take More Medicine as We Get Older

• Taking medicine prescribed by your doctor is usually safe and effective.

…So, it is important to be careful with medicine.

But, as we age, our bodies change. We handle medicine differently than when we were younger.

OOPS

Sometimes we don’t take medicine

the way the doctor prescribes . . .

What Are Some Ways We Take Medicine WRONG?

We take MOREWe take LESSWe take more OFTENWe FORGETWe STOP before we are supposed toWe give OTHER people our medicineWe TAKE other people’s medicine

This is PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE

Prescription Drug Misuse is UNSAFE

You might not get wellYou might actually get sickerYou might have to go to the doctor or the

hospitalIt might lead to prescription drug ABUSE

What can happen if you misuse Prescription Drugs?

What if Someone Takes Prescription Drugs

Wrong on PURPOSE?

If someone takes:More medicine than prescribedMore often than prescribed For no medical reasonOr mixes medicine with alcohol or illegal drugs

This is PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

Commonly Abused Medications

Opioid (narcotic) painkillersMedicine for anxietySleeping pills

Take these medicines only if YOUR doctor prescribed them for YOU and take them just as the doctor ordered!

Prescription Drug Abuse is UNSAFE

Health gets worseHigher risk of accidentsHigher risk of falls and injuriesSerious side effectsPhysical dependence and addiction

Recognizing Prescription Drug Abuse

Sudden change in behaviorWithdrawal from family, friends, activitiesRapid increase in the amount of medicine that is

neededVery frequent refills“Doctor shopping” to get several prescriptions for the

same medicine

Look for these signs . . .

How to Help Someone Abusing Prescription Drugs

Get them to talk to a doctor, counselor or other health professional

Encourage them to be honest about exactly how they are taking their medications

The sooner, the better

Be Part of the Solution

STAMP Out Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse by

SafelyTakingAllMedicineProperly

How to . . .

STAMP Out Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse

Keep an up-to-date list of all your medicines – prescription and over-the-counter

Take your medicine list to ALL your medical appointments: doctor, dentist, emergency room, hospital stays, and share with your pharmacist

Take your medicine EXACTLY as prescribedOnly use the medicine for the reason it was

prescribed

More STAMP Out Tips

If you are not sure how to take a medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about side effects to watch out for and interactions with other medications

Ask how the medicine will affect driving and other daily activities

Talk with your doctor BEFORE you change a dose or stop taking a medicine

More STAMP Out Tips

Do not crush or break pills without checking with your doctor or pharmacist

Don’t use someone else’s medicineDon’t share your medicine with anyone elseDon’t mix your medicines with alcoholDon’t be afraid to ask for help in organizing

your medicinesSchedule a yearly “medication check-up” with

your doctor and pharmacist

And Finally. . .

If you want to help fight

Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse

CLEAN OUT YOURMEDICINECABINET!!

The Medicine Cabinet can be DANGEROUS

Accidental poisonings, abuse and misuse often occur when people store old medications in their homes

A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet

You may become a target for theft or scams by those looking for drugs to abuse

Prevent Poisonings, Misuse & Abuse and

Protect the Environment

Properly dispose of unused/expired medicine DO NOT FLUSH unused medications DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain

Take advantage of community drug take-back programs that allow the you to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal

It’s Up to You to STAMP Out Prescription

Drug Misuse & Abuse

Why don’t you start today?

For More Information

Prescription and Illicit Drug Abuse: Information on older adults, tips on prevention, treatment http://nihseniorhealth.gov/drugabuse

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov Treatment Referral Line 800-662-HELP (4357)

Find a Senior Care Pharmacist: Specializing in the medication needs of older adultshttps://www.ascp.com/find-senior-care-pharmacist

Medication Disposal

DisposeMyMeds.orgAn online resource to help find medication disposal

programs at the local independent community pharmacy near you

Drug Take Back Network Information on permanent and regularly recurring drug

take-back events www.takebacknetwork.com/local_efforts.html

SMARxT Disposal™http://www.mnsmartdisposal.net/

Safeguard My Meds.org http://www.safeguardmymeds.org/

STAMP OUT Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse Tool Kit

Program is brought to you by The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). STAMP OUT was developed

by the ASCP Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Purdue Pharma L.P

STAMP Out Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse

QUESTIONS?

http://www.ascp.com/STAMPOut

What Did You Learn Today?

Which WORDS below complete the medication SAFETY TIPS on the next slides?

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush

Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

Use each word only once!

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

1. I will take my medicine ________ as my doctor prescribed it.

1. I will take my medicine EXACTLY as my doctor prescribed it.

2. Taking medicine for non-medical reasons is prescription drug ______.

2. Taking medicine for non-medical reasons is prescription drug ABUSE.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

3. I will ____ share my medicines with anyone else.

3. I will NOT share my medicines with anyone else.

4. I will keep an up-to-date medicine ____.

4. I will keep an up-to-date medicine LIST.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

5. I will take my medicine for the _______ it was prescribed.

5. I will take my medicine for the REASON it was prescribed.

6. I will go through my medicine cabinet and get rid of ________ medicines at least once a year.

6. I will go through my medicine cabinet and get rid of EXPIRED medicines at least once a year.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

7. Taking medicine differently than prescribed is prescription drug _______.

7. Taking medicine differently than prescribed is prescription drug MISUSE.

8. I will not mix my medicines with ________.

8. I will not mix my medicines with ALCOHOL.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

9. I will get a “medicine check-up” with my doctor and pharmacist every _____.

9. I will get a “medicine check-up” with my doctor and pharmacist every YEAR.

10. I will check with my doctor _______ making any changes in how I take my medicine.

10. I will check with my doctor BEFORE making any changes in how I take my medicine.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse

What Did You Learn Today? Choose from these Words:

11. I will take my current medicine list to ___ my doctors and health care providers.

11. I will take my current medicine list to ALL my doctors and health care providers.

12. Do not _______ medications without checking with your pharmacist.

12. Do not CRUSH medications without checking with your pharmacist.

List Exactly All Before Reason Crush Expired Alcohol Not Year Abuse Misuse