New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 10 - HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 37 - COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT
Subchapter 6 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STATE-FUNDED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM ELEMENTS
Section 10:37-6.53 - Medication education and counseling

(a) All State funded Mental Health Program Elements using medication as a therapeutic modality shall regularly provide counseling services aimed at informing clients about medication(s) and the potential interactions if combined with alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. Medication counseling shall be included within the service plan of each client for whom psychotropic medication has been prescribed. Counseling efforts shall be documented in the client's record.

(b) As part of their medication counseling, such clients shall receive an individual written medication information fact sheet for each prescribed medication. The Division shall, if requested by an agency, supply a sample format for these fact sheets. Such fact sheets shall delineate the medication's purpose and potential side effects, as well as responses to potential side effects and any special precautions, for example, heat related precautions, of which clients should be aware. Clients shall also have the opportunity to participate in a planned program of self-medication which shall teach clients to administer their own prescribed medication dosage and to report side effects promptly. Explanations shall also include:

(c) Medication counseling should occur whenever a different medication is prescribed, whenever a significant change in dosage is made or whenever there is a history or suspicion of alcohol or chemical abuse. Counseling may be provided by a physician, nurse, certified nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist or by a community or consulting pharmacist; however, counseling should be coordinated with the physician or the certified nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist prescribing the client's medications.

(d) Agencies shall have policies to provide written and verbal information on medications, side effects and special precautions such as those that are heat related, to immediate family members, defined as parents, spouse, adult siblings and adult children and, where appropriate, to others designated by the client as involved in a care giving role. A client's consent shall be obtained in order to release the aforementioned information. Written information shall be in a language understandable to the recipient. Provision of such information to the recipient shall be documented in the client's record.

(e) The agency shall provide for direct care staff to receive education regarding types of medication, their adverse reactions or potential side effects, special precautions, and procedures to respond to adverse reactions. Such education shall be documented.

(f) Prior to May 1 of each year, agencies shall make clients, staff, and appropriate family members aware of heat related problems in relation to psychotropic medications.