Bethesda, MD -- Even if you were not a winner in the recent "Powerball" drawing, there is one thing in life that you should never take a chance on: your health. Especially when it comes to your medicines, the winning ticket is Educate Before You Medicate: Your Prescription for Good Health. This is the theme for "Talk About Prescriptions" Month, which begins October 1, 2001.
This marks the 16th observance of "TAP" Month, sponsored by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE). The Council's coalition of over 150 organizations will promote "Talk About Prescriptions" Month in a variety of ways, all designed to improve communication between consumers and health care professionals about using medicines safely and appropriately.
Today more than ever, with three billion retail prescriptions projected to be dispensed this year, Educate Before You Medicate is a simple way to remember the value of asking questions whenever you start a new medicine. From prescription to non-prescription medicines,
from vitamins to the increasingly-popular dietary supplements, what may be a more complex medication regimen
could increase the chance for medication-related problems. New government data show that one-fifth
of adults aged 65-74, and nearly one-quarter of those aged 75 and older, were prescribed at least four different
medications in 19991. "These seniors are most at risk for potential problems, and for whom remembering
to Educate Before You Medicate could be a lifesaver," said W. Ray Bullman, NCPIE's Executive Vice President.
Consumers wondering what questions to ask about their medicines, and health care professionals who
want to promote better patient communication, can turn to a broad range of resources developed for TAP Month by the National Council on Patient Information and Education. These include:
- "Prescription for Safety" medicine cabinet sticker
- "Get the Answers" wallet card, with space to record the medicines you take
- "Medicine: Before You Take It, Talk About It" brochure
- "Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide"
- "Alcohol and Medicine: Ask Before You Mix" brochure
- "Prescription Medicines and You: A Consumer Guide" (available in 5 languages)
- National Medication Checkup Kit (for health care professionals)
- "The Other Drug Problem" video.
These and other medicine communication resources are available for purchase through NCPIE's website, please click here.
ATTN: Consumer Editors -- A special "Talk About Prescriptions" Consumer PAK with single copies of the first five items (above) is available for just $5.00 prepaid, to: TAP-PAK, c/o NCPIE, 4915 Saint Elmo Ave. Suite 505, Bethesda, MD 20814-6082.
1 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 1999 Summary, Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, No. 322, Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, July 2001.
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