Medication Drug Abuse

Be a part of the solution: Monitor. Secure. Dispose.

Did you know?

The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse.
Unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse.
Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
While one in five teens admits to using prescription drugs recreationally to get high or help “manage” his/her life, the vast majority (80 percent) are not abusing these drugs.
More than 50% of people report getting the medications they abuse for free. That could be as easy as opening your medicine cabinet, drawer, or a cupboard.

Maintain a monthly log of what meds you have and how many there are. You can print a log here.
When your teen needs a prescription, make sure you as the parent/guardian are the one to dispense. Your child should not get his/her own drug.

Lock up your medications. Use a safe or place a lock on your medicine cabinet/drawer.
Never leave medications in a visible place, such as in a purse, where others could have access to them at home.
Avoid sharing information with anyone about what drugs may be in your home.

Follow these simple instructions:

Keep medicine in its original container.
Mark out the patient information on the label.
For solid medications, such as pills or capsules, place some water in the container.
Add something nontoxic that tastes bad, such as kitty litter, sawdust, charcoal or cayenne pepper.
Close and seal the container lid tightly with packing or duct tape.
If discarding blister packs, wrap in multiple layers of duct tape.
Place container in a cardboard box or black trash bag.
Place in the trash can close to garbage pickup time.