Advanced Search | Help

Newsroom

Events and Conferences
May 2009
SMTWTFS
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31


Statistics
SAMHSA News Room
Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130

SAMHSA News Bulletin

Date: 10/23/2007
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Uses New Technology to Provide Abuse Prevention Information to Consumers of Certain Highly Abused Prescription Drugs

Practical Advice Given on Properly Storing Medication and Disposing Unused Drugs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing the launch of a first-of-its-kind pilot program for providing point-of-sale substance abuse prevention information sheets to the consumers of highly abused prescription drugs.  These sheets highlight the need for preventing the abuse of these medications and provide practical advice on how to properly store medication and dispose of unused amounts. This effort aims to combat the growing abuse of prescription drugs -- particularly among teens and young adults.

Recently released data from the 2006 National Survey of Drug Use and Health indicate that while levels of illicit drug abuse among youth had declined in many areas over the past few years, prescription drug abuse has grown significantly.  For example, the level of nonmedical use of prescription drugs among young adults increased from 5.4 percent in 2002 to 6.4 percent in 2006, due largely to an increase in the nonmedical use of pain relievers.

“Prescription drug abuse is a serious public health problem, and we must take decisive action against it,” said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D.  “Most prescription drug abusers say they get access to these drugs through a friend or relative.  That’s why this program is so important – consumers need to understand that these beneficial prescription medications can pose serious potential health risks if abused, and if they fall into the wrong hands.  Armed with this abuse prevention information and advice on how to properly store and dispose of these drugs, consumers can play a major role in helping eliminate this problem.”

SAMHSA is using the services of the prescription drug marketing firm Catalina Marketing Corporation to deliver prescription drug abuse prevention messages to consumers of highly abused prescription drugs, such as hydrocodone, select sleep aids and oxycontin (generic and brand name). Using new technology that automatically selects the appropriate abuse prevention information sheet according to the prescription being purchased, a consumer will get one of three abuse prevention information sheets when they have their prescription for one of these drugs filled at a pharmacy participating in this program.

The abuse prevention information sheets address the following themes:

  • Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem – particularly among young adults and teens,
  • A high percentage of teens and young adults report that they can get ready access to someone else’s prescription drugs from the family medicine cabinet,
  • Prescription drugs should be stored in a safe, secure place and counted regularly to help ensure that they do not get into the hands of unauthorized users, and
  • Consumers should always check patient information accompanying the product to see if it contains specific directions for disposing of unused medication, and follow those directions.  If no specific information is provided then unused medication should be properly disposed of by mixing it with undesirable substances (e.g., old coffee grounds, used kitty litter), sealing the mixture in a container and placing it in the trash.  Whenever possible, unused medication may also be donated to authorized community prescription drug take-back programs.  

This effort is a 26-week pilot project involving among 6,300 pharmacies throughout the country.  The agency will measure the program’s effectiveness by monitoring web-based feedback from the public and determining how widely and effectively the program has reached out to consumers with these abuse prevention messages.  Based on these assessments, SAMHSA will determine whether to terminate, continue, modify and/or expand this effort.

Additional information on this program can be found on the SAMHSA website at:  http://www.samhsa.gov/rxsafety/.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.


Page Last Updated: 10/26/2007