Soroptimist International is very pleased to be taking part in a Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) side event titled ‘Hazardous drug consumption in advanced age: the crux of polypharmacy’.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) will hold its sixty-seventh session from Monday 10 March, to Friday 14 March 2025 in Vienna.

This event has been organised by the NGO Committee on Ageing, United Nations Vienna.

It will take place on Thursday 13 March at 10.00 to 11.00 am CET at the UN HQ in Vienna in room M0E79.

Opening remarks: 

Dirk Jarré, Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing, UN Vienna, President of the European Federation of Older Persons (EURAG)

Speakers include: 

• Professor Thomas Frühwald: Member of the Austrian Bioethics Committee, Board member of the Austrian Society for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Board member NGO Committee on Ageing, UN Vienna
• Professor Martin Wehling: Director of the Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Mannheim of the University Heidelberg, Creator of the FORTA Drug Classification System
• Professor Shelley Ann Sternberg: Director of Geriatric Medicine, Jerusalem and Shfela Region, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Member of the National Advisory Committee for Geriatric Medicine, Israel

 

Closing remarks and recommendations:

Professor Thomas Frühwald

What is polypharmacy?

Polypharmacy is defined as the regular use of five or more medications per day. It is particularly common among older adults, as ageing often brings the challenge of multimorbidity—the presence of two or more long-term health conditions. While polypharmacy can effectively manage illnesses and enhance quality of life, it also carries significant risks, including adverse drug events and harmful drug-drug or drug-disease interactions, which can potentially lead to premature death. This side event aims to raise awareness about the complexities and risks associated with polypharmacy.

Download the event flyer for more information and to click on the link to join the event online.

Meeting link is available here

Meeting-ID: 825 8576 1969
Code: 194044

You can also get more information and click on the link to join using the NGO Committee on Ageing, United Nations, Vienna website