Did you Know?

It is estimated that more than 700,000 individuals are seen in hospital emergency departments for adverse drug events each year in the United States. Nearly 120,000 of these patients need to be hospitalized for further treatment. This is an important patient safety problem, but many of these adverse drug events are preventable.

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to misuse and abuse of prescription medications.

• Persons ages 65 and older make up less than 15 percent of the population but they consume about one-third of all prescription medications.
• Many prescriptions for older adults are for psychoactive drugs with high abuse and addiction liability.
• One in four older adults has used psychoactive medications with abuse potential, and such use is likely to grow as the population ages.

• Older adults may be at-risk for falls due to their medications.
  

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Use Your Medicine Safely

• Take your medicine EXACTLY as prescribed.
• Keep an up-to-date medicine list; prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
• Take your medicine list to all of your medical appointments; including your doctor, specialist, dentist, emergency room, hospital stays and share with your pharmacist.
• Schedule a yearly "medicine check-up" with your doctor or pharmacist.
• If needed, wear glasses and always read labels in an area with adequate lighting.

• Don't share your medicine with anyone else.
• If you are not sure how to take a medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Ask you 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.
• Do not crush or break pills without checking with your doctor  or pharmacist.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help in organizing your medicines.
  

Complete a Medication Tracking Form

Click on the picture below to download Allegany County's Medication Tracking Form with instructions.

Dispose of Expired and Old Medicine Properly

• DO NOT FLUSH unused medications.
• DO NOT POUR unused medicine down the sink or drain.
• Dispose of medications at a local Pill Drop Box available through Partners for Prevention in Allegany County at:

                * Cuba Police Department                
                * Fillmore Pharmacy
                * Wellsville Police Department          
                * Allegany County Sheriff's Office 

Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet at Least Once a Year

• Prevent poisonings, prevent abuse. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
  
• Get rid of all expired medicine.
• Throw away ALL medicine you are not using properly.
• Don't stockpile medicine- you could make yourself a target for theft or scams by those looking for drugs to abuse..
  

Prevent Medication Misuse & Abuse

• Don't use someone else's medicine.
• Don't mix your medicine with alcohol or other illegal drugs.
• Talk to your doctor BEFORE you change your dose.
• Only use the medicine for the reason it was prescribed.
  

Ardent Solutions Partners with University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to Improve Medication Safety!

Collaborating with the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ardent is focusing on medication safety and Falls Risk Reduction creating the Medication Therapy Management Falls Risk Reduction Program.

To learn more, click here.

STAMP OUT is a program brought by The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP); developed by the ASCP Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Purdue Pharma L.P

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For further information on STAMP OUT, or to schedule a STAMP OUT presentation, please contact Helen Evans or by calling 585-593-5223, ext. 11.