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List of References

Explore our web page for essential medication safety resources from around the web, offering articles from experts, videos, and more to help you make informed healthcare decisions.

Definitions

In-home Disposal System (or At-home Disposal System)

  1. A system that changes the physical integrity of the drug’s formulation,
  2. Renders the active ingredient(s) unusable (for all practical purposes, mitigating the risk of nonmedical use or overdose),
  3. Is non-toxic and non-hazardous, poses no threat to the consumer and reduces drug exposure to the environment, and,
  4. Acts as a deterrent for misuse.

Prescription Drug Misuse

If you take a medicine in a way that is different from what the doctor prescribed, it is called prescription drug misuse. It could be:

  • Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else
  • Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to
  • Taking the medicine in a different way than you are supposed to. This might be crushing tablets and then snorting or injecting them.
  • Using the medicine for another purpose, such as getting high

Misusing some prescription drugs can lead to addiction. These include opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.

Every medicine has some risk of side effects. Doctors take this into account when prescribing medicines. People who misuse these drugs may not understand the risks. The medicines may not be safe for them, especially at higher doses or when taken with other medicines. Source: NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)

A Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) is a drug safety program that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can require for certain medications with serious safety concerns to help ensure the benefits of the medication outweigh its risks. REMS are designed to reinforce medication use behaviors and actions that support the safe use of that medication. While all medications have labeling that informs health care stakeholders about medication risks, only a few medications require a REMS.

Key Statistics

References

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  2. Abuse NI on D. Investing in Prevention Makes Good Financial Sense. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Published April 28, 2022. https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2022/04/investing-in-prevention-makes-good-financial-sense
  3. Allen JD, Casavant MJ, Spiller HA, Chounthirath T, Hodges NL, Smith GA. Prescription Opioid Exposures Among Children and Adolescents in the United States: 2000–2015. Pediatrics. 2017;139(4):e20163382. doi:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-3382
  4. Bailey V. Caring for Opioid Use Disorder Patients Costs Hospitals $95B Per Year. Rev Cycle Management. Published 2023. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://www.techtarget.com/revcyclemanagement/news/366599981/Caring-for-Opioid-Use-Disorder-Patients-Costs-Hospitals-95B-Per-Year
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