Joint Statement on the Inappropriate Use of Psychotropic Medicines to Manage the Behaviours of People with Disability and Older People

The Royal Commission into aged care quality and safety, and the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability, identified that psychotropic medicines are being misused and overused, particularly with older people and people with disability.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC), the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) have released a statement that recognises that there is:

• evidence that psychotropic medicines are being overprescribed and overused, in particular with older people and people with disability.
• little evidence that psychotropic medicines are effective for managing behaviours of concern.
• evidence that psychotropic medicines contribute to risks of harm to older people and people with disability, including by contributing to risk of falls, weight gain, hypertension and diabetes, by adversely affecting the person’s ability to swallow, and by increasing the risk for aspiration pneumonia and other respiratory complications.
• evidence that psychotropic medicines can diminish the wellbeing and quality of life of older people and people with disability.

The ACQSC, NDIS Commission and ACSQHC will work together to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines via raising awareness, supporting de-escalation and preventative strategies and strengthening understanding and capacity for informed consent, prescribing, dispensing, administration and cessation of psychotropic medicines.

You can read the full statement here.