WHY: Reducing the amount of extra prescribed stimulants not being used can limit NMUPD. If access and availability are targeted, misuse should decrease.
Take-Back Programs
Take-back programs help dispose of unused medications in a safe manner, reducing the amount of extra prescription stimulants in circulation.
Currently
This popular proper medication disposal strategy provides means to reduce the supply of drugs available for diversion. If people dispose of their drugs, then they may be less likely to:
- Offer them to friends or family
- Have drugs ingested by and poison unknowing guests
- Have drugs taken from their homes for illicit purposes
In 2014, the DEA made available a final rule regarding the disposal of pharmaceutical controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substance Act, as amended by the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (“Disposal Act”). This expands options for patients to safely and responsibly dispose of their unused and unwanted, lawfully-possessed pharmaceutical controlled substances through
- Collection receptacles
- Mail-back packages
- Take-back events
Prior to take-back programs, patients would have to dispose of unused medications by:
- Destroy the substances themselves (e.g. flushing the substances)
- Surrender them to law enforcement
- Seek assistance from the DEA
Practice-based evidence indicates that take-back programs increase awareness of drug misuse and enhance community readiness to implement more comprehensive prevention strategies
Medication Adherence Programs/Tools
Medication adherence programs and tools can help physicians and pharmacists monitor patients while taking their medicine, ensuring proper dosage and use.
Currently
Various medication adherence programs and technology trackers exist but have not been widely adopted/accepted:
- Pillsy: smart pill bottle that tracks when a user takes a dose of medication or supplement, storing that information on a secure cloud, accessible to users and/or physicians through a mobile app
- Abilify MyCite: Aripiprazole tablets with an ingestible sensor that records when the medication was taken to a wearable patch, which then transmits data to a mobile app for users and/or physicians to view. The ingestible sensor was first permitted for marketing by the FDA in 2012