Kerr Drug hosted the launch of North Carolina’s portion of a national campaign to educate consumers on the importance of medication adherence. A newly formed North Carolina coalition of healthcare professionals, hospitals, non-profits and governmental agencies is joining the National Consumers League in the Script Your Future campaign in Raleigh and throughout the state. The program goal is to raise awareness among patients about the health consequences of not taking medications as directed. The campaign kicked off on June 7, 2011 at the North Hills Kerr Drug in Raleigh.

Nearly three out of four Americans report they do not always take their medications as directed. The total costs of non-adherence amounts to at least $300 billion per year, including costs from medical complications and hospital readmissions. More than 125,000 deaths in the United States each year are also blamed on people not taking their medications properly.

“Non-adherence to medication is a major public health concern in North Carolina and throughout the nation,” says Ralph Petri, VP of Pharmacy for Kerr Drug. “We know from our pharmacists working closely with physicians and patients how important it is that our customers understand their medications. The Script Your Future campaign will encourage and educate patients and health care professionals to discuss the effects of medications and the dangers of non-adherence.”

The tools included in the Script Your Future campaign include: free text message reminders, sample questions to ask during doctor visits, medication lists, condition management sheets, and fact sheets on the chronic conditions the campaign is focusing on: diabetes, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. Kerr Drug is making the tools available in its stores throughout the state. The tools and information can also be found on the campaign website, www.ScriptYourFuture as well as www.kerrdrug.com.

“The Script Your Future campaign will bring tools and resources to the state to provide residents with the knowledge they need to talk with their physicians and pharmacists about their medicines, improve medication adherence and lead healthier lives, says Beth Skinner, President of North Carolina Alliance for Healthy Communities (NCAHC).”

“There are many reasons why people’s take their medicine as directed, from concerns about side effects to the out-of-pocket costs of prescriptions,” says Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the NCL, the nation’s oldest consumer group. “Whatever the reason, the consequences for patients are the same. Non-adherence puts patients, especially those with chronic conditions, a risk for serious complications.”

The goal of the Script Your Future campaign is to raise awareness among consumers and their family caregivers about the importance to taking medication as prescribed. Raleigh is one of six regional city markets to launch the campaign’s pilot activities, research and advertising. The other regional markets are: Baltimore; Birmingham, Ala.; Providence, R.I.; Cincinnati, OH; and Sacramento, Calif. To learn more about the campaign, go to http://www.ScriptYourFuture.org.