Script Your Future kicks off in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Members of a local coalition in Providence launched on Monday the Script Your Future campaign, which is part of a national effort to educate consumers on the importance of medication adherence.

Elizabeth Roberts, lieutenant governor of the state of Rhode Island, together with the National Consumers League on Monday will launch Script Your Future in Providence to raise awareness among patients about the health consequences of not taking medication as directed.

CVS Caremark, a national partner in the Script Your Future campaign, is headquartered in Rhode Island and will participate in Monday's Providence launch.

Providence is 1-of-6 regional city markets where the campaign will pilot activities, research and advertising. The other regional markets are Baltimore, Md.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati; Raleigh, N.C.; and Sacramento, Calif.

"Nonadherence to medication is a major public health concern," Roberts said. "The Script Your Future campaign will bring tools and resources to our state and provide residents with education that ultimately will improve medication adherence and lead to Rhode Islanders living healthier lives."

More than one-third of medicine-related hospitalizations and nearly 125,000 deaths in the United States each year are due to people not taking their medicines as directed.

"CVS Caremark has undertaken significant health policy research in an effort to better understand why patients do not take their medications as prescribed, so we are very pleased to be a national partner in the Script Your Future campaign," stated Papatya Tankut, VP pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark. "In the coming months, we will be providing information about the campaign in our 7,200 CVS/pharmacy locations throughout the [United States] in order to raise awareness about this important health issue with our customers."

U.S. surgeon general Regina Benjamin helped kick off the national campaign on May 11 in Washington, D.C. Medication adherence is part of the surgeon general's prevention focus. "Our national challenge is to prevent poor health outcomes and to become a healthy and fit nation. One way is for the healthcare community and patients to come together to address the serious issue of medication nonadherence," Benjamin said.

"As a family physician, I know that conversations between clinicians and their patients are key to patients understanding why taking their medication correctly is so important, particularly in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure," Benjamin added. "The tools offered through NCL's Script Your Future campaign empower patients to talk with their healthcare teams about their medication questions and concerns."

Script Your Future aims to educate and offer tools for patients to help them better adhere. Tools include free text message reminders, sample questions, medication lists, condition management sheets and fact sheets on common chronic conditions. All can be found on the campaign website, ScriptYourFuture.org.