SOS Berks Provides Medication Safety Tips

Did you know that 1.5 million people in the US visit emergency departments for adverse drug events each year? Because older adults are more likely to use prescription and over-the-counter medications, they are also more at-risk for adverse events such as side effects or harmful drug interactions. SOS Berks has developed a handout that offers simple tips for safe medication management and disposal. The handouts will be made available to senior living facilities in Berks County, as well as other health care-related industries.

Below are the medication safety tips included on the handout.

Communicate

• Know what medications you are taking and talk to your doctor or pharmacist about risks and side effects. Ask questions if you have any concerns.
• Call your pharmacist if you are ever unsure about which medications to take.
• Create a patient portal through your health care system and refer to it for medication information.(1)

Organize

• Arrange medications in a way that is easy for you to understand, such as using a weekly pill organizer with AM/PM doses. (2)
• Keep a list of all your medications, with dosage and purpose. Include pill descriptions so you can identify them outside of their containers. Make copies to keep in your wallet and hang on your refrigerator. (3)
• Ask your pharmacist about free compliance packages, which organize medications for you at the pharmacy. (2)

Dispose

• Safely dispose of unwanted medications by taking them to a drop box at your local police station or using a medication disposal bag.(4) Click here for a list of drop boxes in Berks County.

Order Free Resources (The items listed below are available at no cost from the Council on Chemical Abuse to Berks Co. Residents Only)

• Free lockboxes: All medications, especially opioids, should be kept in a locked container.
• Free medication disposal bags: To safely dispose of unwanted medicines in your trash.
• Free Narcan overdose reversal kits: Keep NARCAN® on hand if you are prescribed opioids.

Download a copy of our Medication Safety Tips handout in English & Spanish:  Med Safety Card web

Additional Resources

AARP: Let’s Talk About Meds – https://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/health/docs/LetsTalkAboutMeds.pdf
CDC: Medication Safety & Your Health – https://www.cdc.gov/medication-safety/about/index.html
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality – Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe: https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/resources/your-meds/index.html#Way4