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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Sent on behalf of the Ohio Department of Aging<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><img width="720" height="108" style="width:7.5in;height:1.125in" id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image001.png@01D58E4F.3098D2A0"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> – Oct 30, 2019
<br>
<br>
Contacts: Aging - Beth Gianforcaro, (614) 644-6230, <a href="mailto:bgianforcaro@age.ohio.gov">
<span style="color:blue">bgianforcaro@age.ohio.gov</span></a><br>
MHAS - Eric Wandersleben, (614) 728-5090, <a href="mailto:Eric.Wandersleben@mha.ohio.gov">
<span style="color:blue">Eric.Wandersleben@mha.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Video message from Directors McElroy and Criss:</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">
<a href="https://youtu.be/TOy3j6-Rmig">https://youtu.be/TOy3j6-Rmig</a><br>
<i>Radio/podcast partners:</i> <a href="https://aging.sharefile.com/d-sa2c87bfe07f4e9ab">
Download audio clips on this topic from the directors.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">During National Substance Abuse Awareness Month, state agencies encourage older adults to be safe with medications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Older adults are more likely to misuse some medications<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Columbus, Ohio</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> – Older adults are at increased risk of complications from medication misuse and abuse. Research has shown that three
out of five older adults take their prescriptions improperly. Misuse includes skipping doses, not filling prescriptions, and not following the prescriber's directions. The Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
are using National Substance Abuse Awareness Month to alert older Ohioans of the risk and share tips to take, store, and dispose of their medications safely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Medication misuse includes taking more or less of a medication than prescribed; taking a medication for a different reason than what it was prescribed for; or sharing or taking
someone else’s medication,” said Lori Criss, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Older Ohioans should be active participants in their health care. This includes talking about medication safety with their health care providers, pharmacists, family members, and
caregivers,” added Ursel J. McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Factors that contribute to an increased risk from medication misuse include body changes that affect how we process medications. Older adults are also more likely to take multiple
medications prescribed by several health care providers. Further, issues with vision, hearing and brain function can also affect an individual’s ability to hear and understand directions from their health care providers. Possible complications from medication
misuse include adverse reactions, depression, confusion, malnutrition, falls, and addiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Steps older Ohioans can take to avoid medication misuse and abuse:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Maintain an updated, complete list of medications you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, natural and herbal remedies, as well as any vitamins or supplements;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Discuss your list with all your health care providers who have prescribed or may prescribe medications for you;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you have trouble hearing or understanding your health care provider, bring a trusted friend or family member with you to appointments or ask if you can record your visits;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ask your pharmacist to explain directions such as “take with food,” “on an empty stomach,” “once/twice/three times/four times daily,” and “as needed;”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you’ve been taking a medication for a long time, ask your health care provider if it is still appropriate for you;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Do not take prescription medications that were not prescribed for you by one of your health care providers and do not share your prescription medicines with others;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Protect your medications from theft and misuse by others by storing them in areas of your home that are not commonly accessed by others;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dispose of unused or expired medications promptly and properly; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">If you feel that you or a loved one may be misusing medications or exhibiting signs of addiction, talk to a health care provider immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Visit
<a href="http://www.aging.ohio.gov/medicationsafety"><span style="color:blue">www.aging.ohio.gov/medicationsafety</span></a> for additional medication tips and resources for older adults. For information about addiction services and referral to community supports,
call the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services at 1-877-275-6364.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">###</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
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