MultiVu Video Feed: New Survey Reveals That 74 Percent of Consumers Don’t Take Prescription Drugs As Directed

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ — The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), in partnership with Pharmacists for the Protection of Patient Care, will be releasing a new national consumer survey that highlights a major problem in the U.S. of patient non-adherence to their prescription drug regimens.

The survey found that nearly three-fourths (74 percent) of respondents admitted to dangerous non-adherent behaviors including skipping doses, forgetting to take a medication, and taking less than the recommended dose.

The economic cost of consumers not taking their prescription medicines correctly has been estimated at nearly $100 billion a year. But the impact of non-adherence goes beyond financial costs and can lead to substantial worsening of a disease or even death.

The survey also found that pharmacists can play an important role in addressing this national problem.

                              SATELLITE FEEDS:    Friday, December 15th, 2006         Monday, December 18th, 2006   1:30 PM – 1:45 PM ET                1:30 PM – 1:45 PM ET   IA 6                                IA 6   Transponder 11                      Transponder 11   C-Band                              C-Band   Downlink Freq: 3920 Vertical        Downlink Freq: 3920 Vertical    FORMAT:  News package with extra soundbites and B-roll.   

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video, contact information and more available at http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/26080/consumer.shtml

   SOUNDBITES:    * J. Lyle Bootman, PhD, ScD, chair of Pharmacists for the Protection of     Patient Care    * Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of the National     Community Pharmacists Association    B-ROLL INCLUDES:  

Pharmacists counseling patients; pharmacy staff ringing up prescription sales; ambulance pulling up to hospital; operating room procedure; patient leaving hospital; additional soundbite from Kellyanne Conway, president and CEO, the polling company(TM) inc; SOT (man-on-the-street interviews)

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: National Community Pharmacists Association

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/26080/press.shtml

National Community Pharmacists Association

CONTACT: FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR HARD COPY, PLEASE CALL:MultiVu Media Relations, 800-653-5313 EXT. 3