Description/Overview: An extensive review (over 160 articles) of the literature on medication adherence provided meaningful and shocking data regarding the non-adherence of people to their medication treatment plans. Information about the enormity of the problem of non-adherence to medications prescribed for disease conditions, reasons for the non-adherence, the significance of non-adherence, and the interventions by health care providers which will improve medication adherence rates is presented. Statistics related to non-adherence, terminology, examples of non-adherence and assessments for non-adherence are discussed. Predictors of and barriers to non-adherence are presented. Interventions and solutions with emphasis on provider-patient relationships, health care system assistance and behavioral and financial factors are examined. Reduction of mortality and morbidity rates are decreased with increased medication adherence rates. The nurse practitioner implications for medication adherence by patients are numerous. Nurse Practitioners provide the names and information about medications and must also include the necessity and the advantages of adherence. As nurse practitioners review the medications their patients are receiving the decrease in morbidity/mortality rates associated to adherence should also be communicated to the patient. Nurse Practitioners should provide tools for prediction of non-adherence, barriers to non-adherence, and solutions to these problems.