not what the doctor ordered: prescription drug misuse & abuse in older adults insert your name...
TRANSCRIPT
Not What the Doctor Ordered:Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse
in Older Adults
INSERT YOUR NAME HERE
Older Adults Take More Medicine
Consume 1/3 of all prescription meds One in four older adults has used
psychoactive meds with abuse potential Prescription drug misuse and abuse
is a growing problem May be as high as 11% of
older adult population
Definitions
Prescription Drug Misuse The use of a medication other than as
directed– May be accidental or willful
Prescription Drug Abuse Intentionally taking medications that are
not medically necessary
Misuse can Lead to Abuse
Patient behaviorPrescriber behaviorBoth
The pathway from appropriate use, through misuse to abuse can result from
Prescription Drug MisusePatient Behavior
Taking more of a drug than prescribed Missing doses Taking the wrong drug Using a drug for other than the prescribed
reason Sharing or borrowing drugs Using drugs that have expired Combining drugs with alcohol or other
substances
Prescription Drug MisusePrescriber Behavior
Medications w/o indication Multiple drugs from same class Dose too high; duration too long High risk drugs or inappropriate for elderly Inadequate instructions for taking meds Failure to question about use of alcohol or
other drugs with abuse potential
Prescription Drug Misuse is UNSAFE
Treatment failure Increased health resource utilization
–ER visits–Hospitalizations
It might lead to prescription drug ABUSE
Prescription Drug MisuseRisk Factors
Number of medications Multiple prescribers Inappropriate prescribing Limited English language proficiency Low health literacy Memory problems Hearing/Vision impairments Treating symptoms and not the cause
How Many is Too Many?
Prescription Drug AbuseOlder Adults
Drug misuse and abuse is present in 11% of older adults
Second only to alcohol abuse ED visits doubled between 2004 & 2008
–20% age 70 and older–1/3 required hospitalization
Projected to double over two decades, to 2.7 million by 2020
4.4 million will need substance abuse treatment
Commonly Abused Medications
Opioid (narcotic) painkillers Medicine for anxiety Sleeping pills Stimulants
Prescription Drug Abuse is UNSAFE
Health gets worse Higher risk of accidents Higher risk of falls and injuries Serious side effects Physical dependence and addiction
Prescription Drug AbuseRisk Factors
Female gender Social isolation or loss of social supports History of mental health problems History of substance abuse Exposure or access to prescribed
medications with abuse potential
Recognizing Prescription Drug Abuse
Can Be Difficult Older adult does not fit the typical drug abuser
profile No validated screening instruments to
identify/diagnose drug abuse in geriatric population
Many diseases caused by substance abuse are common disorders in later life
Many symptoms of prescription drug abuse mirror common signs associated with aging
Warning Signs Prescription Drug Abuse
Sudden change in behavior Withdrawal from family, friends, activities Sleeping during day Changes in personal grooming, hygiene Worry about . . . Are the drugs “really working”
Having enough medication on hand Giving excuses as to why they need pills Sneaking or hiding pills “Doctor shopping” for several prescriptions
How to Help Someone with Prescription Drug Abuse?
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
Case Study
Place Holder
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
Tool Kit Contents Backgrounder Getting Started Flyer PowerPoint Presentation w/Speaker Notes Self-Assessment Evaluation Handouts
Notes Pages:
Speaker Tips&
Teaching Points
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 yourdoctor is usually safe and effective.
But, as we age, our bodies change.We handle medicine differently than when we were younger.
…So, it is important to be careful with medicine.
OOPS
Sometimes we don’t take medicine the way the doctor prescribes . . .
What Are Some Ways We Take Medicine WRONG?
We take MORE We take LESS We take more OFTEN We FORGET We STOP before we are supposed to We give OTHER people our medicine We TAKE other people’s medicine
This is PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE
Prescription Drug Misuse is UNSAFE
You might not get well You might actually get sicker You might have to go to the doctor or the
hospital It 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 prescribed More often than prescribed For no MEDICAL reason Or mixes medicine with alcohol or illegal
drugs
This is PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
Commonly Abused Medications
Opioid (narcotic) painkillers Medicine for anxiety Sleeping 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 worse Higher risk of accidents Higher risk of falls and injuries Serious side effects Physical dependence and addiction
Recognizing Prescription Drug Abuse
Sudden change in behavior Withdrawal from family, friends, activities Rapid increase in the amount of
medicine that is needed Very frequent refills “Doctor shopping” to get several
prescriptions for the same medicine
Look for these signs . . .
How to Help Someone with Prescription Drug Abuse?
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 visits & hospital stays and share with your pharmacist
Take your medicine EXACTLY as prescribed Only use the medicine for the reason it was
prescribed
More STAMP Out Tip
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 medicine Don’t share your medicine with anyone else Don’t mix your medicines with alcohol Don’t be afraid to ask for help in organizing
your medicines Schedule 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 burglary, 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 public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal
It’s Up to You to
STAMPOut Prescription
Drug Misuse & Abuse
Why don’t you start today?
For More Information
Prescription and Illicit Drug Abuse: Information on trend among older adults, tips on prevention, treatment http://nihseniorhealth.gov/drugabuse
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)www.samhsa.gov888-662-HELP (4357) SAMHSA
Find a Senior Care Pharmacist: Specializing in the medication needs of older adultshttps://www.ascp.com/find-senior-care-pharmacist
Medication Disposal
DisposeMyMeds.org An 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/
Attention Seniors:STAMP Out Prescription Drug
Misuse & AbuseJoin us for a special program on making the
best use of your medicines
Date: ___________________ Time:__________
Location: ______________________________________________________________________
1c
Self-Assessment Quiz
Evaluation
Key Messages
• USE YOUR MEDICINE SAFELY
• PREVENT MEDICATION MISUSE & ABUSE!
• CLEAN OUT YOUR MEDICINE CABINET ONCE A YEAR
• DISPOSE OF EXPIRED AND OLD MEDICINE PROPERLY
• NEED MORE INFORMATION ON MEDICATION SAFETY?
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
Tool Kit Available
ASCP.com/stampout
STAMP Out Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse
STAMP Out Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse
QUESTIONS?