Effective March 30, 2013, New York state will require many pharmacies to provide patient counseling
and drug information in a language spoken by the patient, if the patient has limited proficiency in
English.  Aimed to increase patient safety, the law applies to “any pharmacy that is part of a
group of eight or more pharmacies, located within New York State and owned by the same corporate
entity.”  The pharmacies are required to “provide free, competent oral interpretation services and
translation services” as well as translations of medication labels and other written material to
patients with limited English proficiency filling a prescription at their pharmacy. (Scroll to
§6829. Interpretation and translation requirements for prescription drugs and standardized
medication labeling).

On April 27, 742,497 pounds (371 tons) of prescription medications were collected from members of
the public at more than 5,829 locations manned by 4,312 state, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies that partnered with DEA on the event. When added to the collections from DEA’s previous
five Take-Back events, more than 2.8 million pounds (1,409 tons) of prescription medications have
been removed from circulation. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe,
convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the
general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Please check back here for the next
announced date for National Take-Back Day Event. 

Nearly 30% of women fail to pick up their newly prescribed osteoporosis medication, bisphosphonate,
increasing their risk for bone fractures, according to a Kaiser Permanente study. The study
examined the electronic health records of 8,454 women, ages 55 years or older, who were Kaiser
Permanente Southern California members between December 2009 and March 2011 and were prescribed a
new bisphosphonate medication. It found that 29.5 percent of these women did not pick up their
prescription within 60 days of the order date. In particular, older women and those who utilized
the emergency department in the prior year were less likely to pick up their bisphosphonate
prescription. However, women taking other prescription medications and those who had been
hospitalized in the prior year were more likely to pick up their bisphosphonate prescription,
according to the researchers.

CVS Caremark-led research found that non-white patients had 50% greater odds of statin medication
non-adherence compared to white patients, while women had 10% greater odds of statin non-adherence
compared to men. The study was conducted by researchers at CVS Caremark and Brigham and Women's
Hospital, and published in The American Heart Journal.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) second annual National
Prevention Week is May 12-May 18.  This national health observance aims to increase public
awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues.  This year’s theme –
Your voice. Your choice. Make a difference. – emphasizes that the choices we make each day are
important and have a real effect on our health and the well-being of our families and communities.
Each day of National Prevention Week 2013 has a unique focus to recognize states’ and communities’
prevention efforts and highlight multiple facets of behavioral health:  Prevention and Cessation of
Tobacco Use; Prevention of Underage Drinking; Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse and Illicit
Drug Use; Prevention of Alcohol Abuse; Suicide Prevention; Promotion of Mental, Emotional, and
Behavioral Well-being. 

National Prevention Week 2013 offers a way for everyone to voice their support for prevention and
take action to make a difference in their communities. One way to get involved is to take the
Prevention Pledge and share it with colleagues, family and friends. Another way is to participate
in a National Prevention Week event in your community or a community near you. Individuals also can
take part in the National Prevention Week “I Choose” Project. Snap a photo of yourself or a friend
with a sign saying why you choose prevention, and then send it to SAMHSA for posting in their photo
gallery.