CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Overview
2. Alcohol
3. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
4. Barriers to Recognizing Problems
5. Signs and Symptoms of Misuse
6. Talking About Sensitive Issues
7. Assessing a Problem
8. Preventing Misuse
9. Intervention and Treatment

Supplements
Resources

Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Internet Pharmacies

The growth of the Internet now lets people buy their medicines online through the computer. This is called an Internet pharmacy. This may appeal to older adults who need multiple medications and have difficulty getting out to the local pharmacy. Look at the facts carefully before deciding to use an Internet pharmacy.

Benefits

Internet pharmacies appear to have several advantages. They offer:

• A wider selection of products
• Better prices
• Access to a wealth of medical information
• Private consultations and confidentiality
• Delivery of medicines directly to your home

Risks

The disadvantages of Internet pharmacies are often apparent only after the fact. Some risks are:

• Fake, unapproved, or outdated products
• Little or no quality control (packaging, storage, or purity)
• Possibility of incorrect diagnosis (some sites diagnose and prescribe online)
• Dispensing of inappropriate medicine
• Lack of confidentiality and security

Questions to Ask

Before buying medicine online, here are some questions to ask:

• Is there a registered pharmacist with a U.S. address and phone number listed on the site?
• Is the Internet pharmacy licensed to operate and deliver medications in your State?
• Do they take a complete medical/drug history before dispensing medicines?
  If not, you could receive medicines that interact badly with other medicines you are currently taking.
• Do they use medicines made outside the United States?
  If so, you cannot be sure of the quality of the medicine or if it is expired.
• Do they take health insurance?
  Most Internet pharmacies do not accept insurance, even Medicaid prescription benefits.
• Are there hidden costs for consultations or shipping fees? If so, the medicine may be no cheaper than the local pharmacy.
• What is the privacy and confidentiality policy? Discussing personal matters with a doctor can be uncomfortable. But it is better than having personal information floating through cyberspace where others may see it and use it for criminal purposes.

NOTE: Using a mail order pharmacy through a health plan with a prescription from the doctor or having the doctor send the prescription directly to the pharmacy by computer is safe.