Albany, NY – March 28, 2016 – A resolution jointly drafted by students at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ Albany and Vermont Campuses has been adopted as policy by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the largest association of pharmacists in the U.S. The students who contributed to the development and advancement of the resolution are members of the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP).
The policy – which was approved by the APhA House of Delegates at their Annual Meeting earlier this month – details new guidelines for the labeling and measuring of oral liquid medications. Among the recommendations, the policy seeks to make the millimeter the standard unit of measure for oral liquid medications and discourages the use of teaspoons and dosing cups labeled in ounces for this purpose.
Over 70,000 Emergency Department visits result from unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 18.
“Research has shown that measuring oral liquid medications in millimeters produces the highest level of accuracy, which is key to reducing dosing and measurement confusion,” said Jenna McGreevy, President of the APhA-ASP chapter on the College’s Albany Campus.
Taking an incorrect dose of a medication (particularly when the practice is repeated) can have serious health repercussions. Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Event Surveillance System project highlights some of the risks:
- Over 70,000 emergency department (ED) visits result from unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 18
- Over 80% of ED visits among children under the age of 12 are due to unsupervised children taking medications on their own and 10% of ED visits in this age group are due to medication errors
- OTC medications are involved in about one-third of ED visits among children 12 and under
The APhA is expected to use the policy as the basis for state and federal advocacy around the issue.
About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Founded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution with a long tradition of academic and research excellence. The College is committed to educating the next generation of leaders in the health care professions and translating scientific discoveries into therapies that benefit humankind. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers six bachelor’s programs and five graduate programs in the health sciences. The College has campuses in Albany, New York and Colchester, Vermont.