Beyond Abuse and Exposure: Framing the Impact of Prescription-Medication Sharing

Abstract

Sharing prescription medication places individuals at risk for diverse consequences, and further research regarding medication loaning and borrowing behaviors and their associated consequences is merited.

Comparison of access to medicines between Klang Valley and East Coast of peninsular Malaysia for children living in poor households

“…This practice has been documented previously among Malaysian parents [16]. Although this is convenient for the caregivers, sharing prescription medicines potentially places the children at risk of adverse outcomes [17] as well as suboptimal therapy for the original prescription.…”

Exploring mHealth Participation for Emergency Response Communities

“…Sharing prescription drugs is dangerous, illegal in most jurisdictions, and the centre of much research and many prevention efforts (Goldsworthy, Schwartz, & Mayhorn, 2008). To be clear, while there is the potential to misuse and abuse, a manifold potential for drug abuse exists in a variety of social networking environments (Hanson, Cannon, Burton, & Giraud-Carrier, 2013).…”

Analysis of Community-Based Accumulation of Home Medications (CACHES) Found at Death Scenes in Davidson County, Tennessee

“…Concerned about the potential consequences of sewering unused medications (Abrons et al, 2010;Kotchen et al, 2009;Seehusen & Edwards, 2006), patients are left with no other option than to stockpile these medications in their closets, medicine and kitchen cabinets (Seehusen & Edwards, 2006;Sorensen et al, 2005). Hoarding of unused medications contributes to the formation of CACHES, which place the individual at risk for adverse outcomes including adverse drug events, accidental poisonings, and poor health outcomes related to non-adherence (Goldsworthy, Schwartz, & Mayhorn, 2008;Sorensen et al, 2005Sorensen et al, , 2006. Drug sharing.…”

“…Drug sharing. Studies in the U.S. (Daniel, Honein, & Moore, 2003;Garnier et al, 2010;Goldsworthy et al, 2008;McCabe, Boyd, & Teter, 2006;Petersen, Rasmussen, Daniel, Yazdy, & Honein, 2008;Seehusen & Edwards, 2006) and internationally (Abahussain et al, 2006;Ellis & Mullan, 2009) reveal a common theme of individuals, across the lifespan (Daniel et al, 2003;Ellis & Mullan, 2009;Goldsworthy et al, 2008;Petersen et al, 2008), holding onto unused medications with the intent to share prescription medications with family members or friends (Bolle et al, 2008;Daniel et al, 2003;Ellis & Mullan, 2009;Garnier et al, 2010;Goldsworthy et al, 2008;McCabe et al, 2006;McCabe, Cranford, Boyd, & Teter, 2007;Seehusen & Edwards, 2006;B. White, Blease, & Bishop, 2006).…”

“…White, Blease, & Bishop, 2006). Common classes of "shared" medications include allergy medications, antibiotics, stimulants, opioids, and benzodiazepines (Bolle et al, 2008;Garnier et al, 2010;Goldsworthy et al, 2008;McCabe et al, 2006;McCabe et al, 2007;Petersen et al, 2008). The CACHES model identifies drug sharing as a risk factor for the stockpiling of medications in the home setting.…”