STOMP
It is estimated that every day about 35,000 people with learning disabilities or autism are prescribed psychotropic medicines when they do not have a diagnosed mental health condition, often to manage behaviour which is seen as challenging. This includes medicines used to treat psychosis, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. It also includes epilepsy medication when it is only used for its calming effect, rather than to treat epilepsy.
STOMP is about making sure people get the right medicine if they need it and that people get all the help they need in other ways as well. It is about encouraging people to have regular medication reviews, supporting health professionals to involve people in decisions and showing how families and social care providers can be involved. STOMP also aims to improve awareness of non-drug therapies and practical ways of supporting people whose behaviour is seen as challenging
