Lock Up Your Medicine Cabinet!

Prescription drug abuse is becoming a rising issue in the United States. Every 19 minutes someone dies from an accidental prescription drug overdose. Prescription drugs can be prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over whom used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription medication for non-medical reasons.

The following are helpful tips for reducing prescription medication abuse within your household:

Monitoring:

• Take note of all your prescription medication and those of anyone else in your household. This includes counting how many pills are in each of your prescription bottles or pill packets and the amount of liquid medications in your cabinet.
• Make sure your friends and relatives are aware of the risks.

Securing:

• Take prescription and over-the-counter medications out of the medicine cabinet and hide them in a place only you know about. If possible, lock all of your medications in a safe place.
• Tell relatives and friends, to lock their medications or keep them in a safe place.

Disposing:

• Take an inventory of all of the prescription drugs in your home. Start the process of disposing by putting all of your expired and unwanted medication together in a pile.
• Mix medication with an undesirable substance such as coffee grounds or kitty litter. Put this mixture in an empty bag or can to discard.
• Unless directions on the label say otherwise, do not flush down the drain or toilet. There is always an option to drop off the medication to the nearest prescription medication drop box.

On April 25^th, 2015, ADAPT will be hosting our Spring Cleaning Initiative which encourages people to dispose of their old and unused prescription drugs at their local police station. This initiative will be taking place in seven towns throughout Essex County.

ADAPT is here to help you talk to your children and make a difference within your home and community. Contact us and request more information or tips on having these discussions.

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