MedsAware 2025
In 2025, MedsAware turns its attention towards sustainability highlighting the benefits of deprescribing that can be felt all around us – for patient and planet.
MedsAware 2026
There has never been more information available at our fingertips, but when it comes to our health, we can't take shortcuts.
In an environment where patients are exposed to conflicting, inaccurate or misleading information about medicines, health professionals play a vital role in ensuring decisions about medication use are informed, evidence-based and person-centred.
Medicines can affect each of us in different ways — pharmacists and their health professional colleagues are uniquely and expertly trained to consider the whole person in all aspects of care.
In 2026, AdPha's MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week is asking are you MedsAware or misinformed?
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On this page:
- What is MedAware Deprescribing Action Week?
- Statistics about misinformation online
- Case studies
- Free webinar: Supporting your patients to be MedsAware
- Conversation starters for health professionals
- From the President
- Partners and supporters
- Social media images
What is MedAware Deprescribing Action Week?
MedsAware is AdPha's Deprescribing Action Week, raising awareness around polypharmacy and deprescribing.
‘Polypharmacy’ refers to the use of multiple medicines, usually defined as the use of five or more regular medicines.
‘Deprescribing’ describes the process of discontinuing medicines that are no longer required, or for which the risk of harm outweighs the benefits in the individual.
Medicines can have important benefits in curing and preventing diseases and improving symptoms. However, the potential benefits and harms of medicines can change over time as a person ages, acquires new medical conditions, takes new medicines and changes their care goals. Therefore, medicines should be regularly reviewed to make sure that they are still of benefit, and not causing any harms.
With the support of our national and international partners, MedsAware 2026 reinforces a simple but vital message: deprescribing should always occur through informed conversations with a qualified health professional - because when it comes to our health, there are no shortcuts.
The volume of misinformation people encounter online is staggering
There has never been more health information available at our fingertips, with artificial intelligence accelerating both the speed and volume of content. However, as access to information grows, so too does the risk of exposure to misinformation.
Seven percent of all daily Google searches are health-related, with 70,000 healthcare searches performed every minute1
More than 230 million people ask health and wellness questions on ChatGPT every week2
Nearly 1 in 10 Australian adults reported using ChatGPT to obtain health information, and of those, more than 60% had asked questions that would typically require a clinician’s expertise3
Research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority shows 72 per cent of Australian adults who used a digital platform in the first half of 2025 believe they encountered some form of misinformation on a platform with health and medical information.4
Recent Research from Western Sydney University reveals 97 percent of adult Australians have poor or limited ability to verify information online5
In a recent CHF health literacy report, 63.6% of respondents reported using the internet or social media as a source of information about the healthcare they require6
Case study: Mrs L
After reading claims online that daily aspirin was a “safer, natural” way to protect her heart, she started taking it alongside her prescribed anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation, without consulting her GP or pharmacist. Two weeks later, she was admitted to hospital with serious bleeding.
A hospital pharmacist identified the dangerous duplication of blood-thinning therapy, deprescribed the aspirin, and provided education on safe medicine use. Mrs L recovered fully, highlighting the importance of seeking trusted advice from health professionals.
Case study: Mr T
Mr T, 59, had been prescribed a short course of a benzodiazepine during a stressful period. Months later, after reading online advice suggesting these medicines were an effective solution for ongoing insomnia, he began taking leftover tablets more frequently. When they ran out, he started using tablets from his partner’s old prescription, believing they were safe and helpful for sleep.
Over time, his use increased to most nights of the week. He became increasingly fatigued, forgetful, and experienced a minor fall at home.
During a GP-referred Home Medicines Review, an accredited pharmacist identified the escalating, unsupervised benzodiazepine use. The pharmacist worked with Mr T and his GP to develop a gradual tapering plan, provided education about dependence and falls risk, and supported safer, non-medicine strategies for sleep.
Mr T successfully reduced and ceased the medicine under supervision. His alertness improved, and he avoided further harm.
Free webinar!
Supporting your patients to be MedsAware: separating facts from fiction to assist deprescribing
AI is strengthening in speed and accuracy every day, but there is no substitute for human knowledge.
Medicines can affect each of us in different ways — pharmacists and their health professional colleagues are uniquely and expertly trained to consider the whole person in all aspects of care.
In 2026, AdPha's MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week asks are you MedsAware or misinformed?
Conversation starters for health professionals
Normalising and opening the conversation
- "Many people look online for health information. Have you come across anything recently that has influenced how you're taking your medicines?"
- "Before we finalise your medicines today, I'd like to check whether you've started, stopped, or changed anything based on information you've read or heard online."
- "It's very common to see conflicting advice online. Has anything you've seen raised questions about your treatment?"
- "Sometimes people try alternatives they've seen recommended online. Have you tried anything new for your condition recently?"
Addressing trust and credibility
- "It can be difficult to know which online sources are reliable. Would you like us to look at that information together?"
- "If you ever see advice that makes you consider changing your medicines, I'd really encourage you to check with a health professional first so we can keep you safe."
‘Deprescribing is in the DNA of AdPha, Australia’s pharmacy organisation for team-based, specialty pharmacist care.
The world’s first published use of the term ‘deprescribing’ appeared in our flagship Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR) more than 20 years ago, highlighting the importance of reducing unnecessary medicines to achieve better health outcomes.
Today, in an era where health information - and misinformation - is more accessible than ever, pharmacists play a vital role in helping patients navigate conflicting advice and make evidence-based decisions about their medicines.
MedsAware: Deprescribing Action Week empowers Australians - along with their carers, families and healthcare teams - to ensure conversations about their medicines, and treatment decisions are guided by trusted clinical advice.
We’re proud to lead the MedsAware message and work with our partners to embed deprescribing as a core principle of safe, evidence-based health care.’
— AdPha President Assoc. Prof. Tom Simpson
Thank you to our founding partner ADeN
Thank you to our 2026 supporters
Thank you to our 2026 Media Partner
Social media images
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References
1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/03/10/google-sifting-one-billion-health-questions-day/
2. https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/
3. Ayre, J., Cvejic, E. and McCaffery, K.J. (2025), Use of ChatGPT to obtain health information in Australia, 2024: insights from a nationally representative survey. Med J Aust, 222: 210-212. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52598
4. https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2025-11/report/communications-and-media-australia-how-we-encounter-misinformation
5. Online misinformation in Australia, 3 Dec 2024 - https://apo.org.au/node/328959
6. Consumers Health Forum of Australia (2026). Health consumers’ ability to access, understand and use health information and care services. Canberra, Australi
In this Section
MedsAware 2024
MedsAware 'Ask because you care' empowers older Australians, Australian living with a disability and their care teams to ask health professionals ‘Could any of these medicines be doing more harm than good?’
MedsAware 2023
In our inaugural year, MedsAware raises awareness around polypharmacy and deprescribing encouraging Australians to check their medicines are current, effective and safe.