FDA Consumer Education: Over-the-Counter Medicine
Over-the-counter medicine is also known as OTC or nonprescription medicine. All these terms refer to medicine that you can buy without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you follow the directions on the label and as directed by your health care professional. The materials available herein can help consumers, working with their health care professionals, to choose and use over-the-counter medicine wisely.

A Guide: How to Create Medication Pill Card
Many people have trouble keeping track of their medicines. A pill card is a simple, visual way to show all of the medicines that a person needs to take on a regular basis. The pill card uses pictures and simple phrases to show each medicine, its purpose, how much to take, and when to take it. This 10-page guide, prepared under contract for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), provides step-by-step instructions for creating a pill card for a pretend patient. Step-by-step instructions, sample clip art, and suggestions for design and use will help to customize a reminder card.

National SMARxT Disposal Program Launched
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to help protect the nation's fish and aquatic resources from the improper disposal of medication. The campaign -- dubbed "SMARxT DISPOSAL" -- will inform people on how to safely dispose of medicines in the trash, and highlight the environmental threat posed from flushing medicines down the toilet. APhA, PhRMA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say these small steps can make a huge difference:

• DO NOT FLUSH unused medications or POUR them down a sink or drain.
• Dispose of Unused Medication in Household Trash.
• Check for Approved State and Local Collection Programs.
• Consult Your Pharmacist with any questions.

OTC safety.org
The site provides the latest information about OTC cough and cold medicines for children, and will be the home of a new major, national educational campaign for parents and healthcare professionals promoting the safe use and safekeeping of OTC cough and cold medicines.

Playing It Safe: You & Your Medication
The focus of this 12-page publication, produced by the Health Quality Council of Alberta Canada is on medication safety and giving consumers information and tools they can use to play it safe with the medications they use. NCPIE is pleased that the publication references and links to its materials.

Be MedWise Tennessee
NCPIE is pleased to collaborate with the University of Tennessee, Cooperative Extension Service and the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, on the development and implementation of Be MedWise Tennessee. The goal of the state-wide effort is to improve the medication literacy of Tennesseans.

US Justice Department Website for Teens
Just Think Twice site designed to discourage teen methamphetamine use. Includes detailed information about over-the-counter and prescription medicine abuse and free resources.

What's in Your Medicine Cabinet? (Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics, Univ. of Arizona Health Sciences Center)

An interactive tool for learning about interactions between over-the-counter and prescription medicines.

National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
NCPIE is a non-profit coalition working to improve medicine communication and the safe, appropriate use of medicines. In addition to the “Be MedWise” campaign, NCPIE sponsors the national health observance, “Talk About Prescriptions” Month, each October.

Children and America's Other Drug Problem: Guidelines for Improving Prescription Medicine Use Among Children and Teenagers (1989)
This report was first published on May 2, 1989 to serve as a resource for organizations with an interest in issues related to medication use and/or a mandate to serve or represent children and teenagers.

The National Consumers League (NCL)
NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer's perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information.

Pharmacy and You (APhA)
Information from the American Pharmacists Association.