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• 1.8 billion prescription medications dispensed annually in U.S.
• Nearly 75% of Americans do not take their medications as prescribed
• Causes 125,000 deaths per year
• Accounts for 10% of all hospital admissions
• Direct result of 23% of new admissions to assisted living-type facilities
• Costs US health care system about $290 billion per year

• Keep ALL active medications in one location and in their original containers.
• Store medications in dry environment
• Away from bathroom humidity, heat/steam in kitchen, moisture in refrigerator, direct sunlight
• Liberate yourself from your pill bottles
• Use an organizational system (pill box)
• Promotes mobility
• Increases awareness of missed doses and need to order refills

Dispose Unwanted/Expired Medications

• Do not flush down toilet or sink.
• Mix with unpleasant substance (kitty litter or coffee grounds), put in sealed container and dispose in trash
• Call your garbage/recycling company for local services
• Federal Drug Take-Back Program
• Occurs about twice a year
• Call garbage/recycling company for nearest location
• Walgreens medication disposal envelope ($4.00)

Initiate Medication Reminder System

• Dramatically reduces chance of missed doses
• Coordinate medication taking with routine daily activities
• For medication regimens dosed multiple times per day…
• Utilize medication reminder alarm products
• Electronic pill boxes or medication organizers
• Cell phone apps
• Make medications “mobile”

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