STOMP it out

Stopping over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

We support STOMP. We are proud to pledge to help stop the over medication of people with a learning disability, autism or both.

In England, every day about 30,000 to 35,000 adults with a learning disability are being given psychotropic medicines when they do not have a diagnosed mental health condition.

This is often to manage behaviour which is seen as challenging.

Sometimes the use of these medicines is right, but we want to do more to ensure they are only used when they are the most appropriate treatment available.

These medicines are right for some people, but medicating them too much or using them for the wrong reason can cause unwanted side effects. These include:

• Putting on weight
• Feeling tired or ‘drugged up’
• Serious problems with physical health

STOMP is about making sure people are only given these medicines for the right reason, in the right amount, for as short a time as possible.

To support our this we launched a new information pack with Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust. It’s for health professionals, carers, individuals and service users, and puts information into the hands of those who need it to help make sure medication is used safely, and that alternative treatments are used where they are appropriate.

Download the STOMP Sheffield resource pack