Let’s Stop Medication Abuse the Right Way

Jessica overheard her parents talking about how her brother’s ADHD medicine was making him less hungry. Since Jessica was worried about her weight, she started sneaking one of her brother’s pills every few days.

Anthony found an old bottle of painkillers that had been left over from his wife’s operation. He had persisting backaches and decided to try them. Since a doctor had prescribed the pills, Anthony figured that they were okay to try.

Both Jessica and Anthony are taking risks. Prescription painkillers and other medications help a great deal of people live more productive lives, freeing them from the symptoms of medical conditions like depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, that’s only when they’re prescribed for a particular individual to treat a specific condition.

Taking prescription drugs in a way that hasn’t been recommended by a physician can be more dangerous than people think. In fact, it’s drug abuse. And it’s just as illegal as taking street drugs.

Let’s take a look at the problem: It is estimated that 1.5 million people are injured by medication errors in the United States each year and 22.5 million Americans use some type of illicit drugs. If a medication is taken by a person for whom it was not prescribed or even in dosages other than prescribed, detrimental adverse effects can take place. Some causes of medication error and abuse include factors that are surgery related, mental confusion, depression and the use of prescription painkillers.

The medication errors that occur can be greatly reduced through the use of a trusted individual. This can be a relative or even a friend that can assist anyone in need. Through the organization, PULSE of NY, the Designated Medication Manager (DMM) campaign has been developed for just this purpose.

A DMM will typically be assigned by the patient before the use of medication and will help with prescription drugs, over the counter drugs and vitamin intake. The DMM will then look out for possible misuse, mistakes and signs of addiction that may occur. By developing this campaign, there is a great encouragement for the recruitment of DMM’s and suggested programs and/or literature will be provided to gather all of the skills that are needed.

Medication misuse and error is a serious problem that has affected millions of people throughout the years and it’s time to do something about it! For more information on PULSE of NY and the Designated Manager Campaign, check out the links provided below. Don’t forget to leave comments, suggestions and inquiries as well!

PULSE of NY: http://www.pulseofny.org/

Designated Manager Campaign: http://pulseofny.org/resources/PULSE_DMM_02.22nologo.pdf