An assessment program to reduce drug use with the mentally retarded

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Behavioral Science
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Increasing concerns regarding institutional drug abuse necessitate systematic evaluation of therapeutic drug effectiveness.
• Accreditation and legal mandates require rigorous oversight of medication practices in care facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a two-phase drug assessment program for evaluating therapeutic drug effectiveness.
• To enable an intermediate care facility to reduce psychoactive medication use.
• To meet accreditation and legal requirements.

Main Methods:

• Phase one: Identified individuals capable of treatment without medication.
• Phase two: Determined minimum effective dosages for patients with maladaptive behaviors uncontrollable after medication removal.

Main Results:

• Successfully reduced reliance on psychoactive medications in a facility for the mentally retarded.
• Enabled patients to participate in treatment with reduced or no medication.
• Identified optimal, individualized drug dosages, minimizing side effects.

Conclusions:

• The described drug assessment program offers significant therapeutic benefits.
• The program yields economic and programmatic advantages for institutions.
• This systematic approach supports evidence-based prescribing and patient-centered care.