Alliance for Balanced Pain Management Introduces New Tool to Help Assess and Reduce Prescription Medicine Misuse and Abuse Risks in the Home

BOONTON, N.J., June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Balanced Pain Management (AfBPM) today launched a new educational tool – "Are You the Only One Taking Your Medicine?" – that consumers and health care providers can use to assess whether a home is at risk for medication misuse, abuse or diversion. The tool also includes tips for how to monitor, safeguard and properly dispose of prescription medicines, including pain medicines, to minimize the risk of inappropriate use.

This free tool can be accessed here: http://alliancebpm.org/asset/2015-06-03-afbpm-checklist-pdf  

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 60 percent to 70 percent of teens say home medicine cabinets are their source of drugs.¹ Furthermore, each year an estimated 71,000 children 18 and younger are seen in U.S. emergency departments for unintentional medication poisonings.²

"While pain management, including prescription pain medicine when appropriate, is important, it's critical to be aware of the potential for medicine abuse in the home," said Marcia Lee Taylor, interim President and CEO of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and AfBPM Steering Committee member. "Two thirds of teens who report abuse of prescription medicine are getting them from friends, family or acquaintances. This new tool will help people understand what they can do to 'mind their meds' so that teens and others in their life won't have access to their prescription medication."

Access to integrated pain management, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation, psychological counseling, social support, medication and other complementary approaches, can help manage acute and chronic pain. If medications are prescribed, AfBPM encourages people to speak with their health care providers to ensure they take their medication properly and to store and dispose of it appropriately to help avoid unintended consequences, such as misuse, abuse or diversion.

AfBPM is a diverse collective of health care advocacy groups, patient organizations, industry representatives and other stakeholders with a mission to support both the appropriate access to integrated pain management and the responsible use of prescription pain medicines with an aim to reduce abuse and enhance patient safety. Member organizations and resources for balanced pain management can be found at www.AllianceBPM.org.

About the Alliance for Balanced Pain Management

AfBPM is composed of 25 organizations, including a Steering Committee made up of Alliance for Patient Access, American Cancer Society, American Chronic Pain Association, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and The Gerontological Society of America. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals is the founding sponsor. Public or private organizations that are focused on addressing and advancing balanced pain management, reinforcing the need for safe and responsible prescribing, use, storage and disposal of prescription pain medications, and minimizing misuse of prescription pain medication may join the Alliance for Balanced Pain Management. Find out more about AfBPM and membership: www.AllianceBPM.org.

Alliance for Balanced Pain Management Member Organizations

Alliance for Patient Access
American Academy of Pain Management
American Cancer Society
American Chronic Pain Association
American Pain Society
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
Caregiver Action Network
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Easter Seals
The Gerontological Society of America
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Men's Health Network
National Alliance for Caregiving
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators
National Black Nurses Association
National Minority Quality Forum
National Patient Safety Foundation
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
U.S. Pain Foundation
Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc.
Veterans Health Council & Vietnam Veterans of America

CONTACT:
Caren Begun
Green Room Public Relations
856-424-2023
[email protected]  

References

¹ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Prescription Drug Diversion Resource Guide. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare-Medicaid-Coordination/Fraud-Prevention/Medicaid-Integrity-Education/Downloads/prescription-drugdiversion-resourceguide.pdf

² Medication Safety Program. Program Focus and Activities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/MedicationSafety/program_focus_activities.html

SOURCE Alliance for Balanced Pain Management

Related Links

http://www.AllianceBPM.org