Prescription drug abuse by teens and young adults is a serious problem in the United States. As reported in the Partnership for a Drug Free America’s annual tracking study:
- 1 in 5 teens has abused a prescription (Rx) pain medication
- 1 in 5 report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
- 1 in 10 has abused cough medication
Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses, but taking them without a prescription to get high or “self-medicate” can be as dangerous – and addictive – as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is making sure that parents, young adults and teens know the very real risks of misusing medicine.
Solutions:
Prevent your children from abusing your own medication by securing your meds in places your child cannot access.
Keep medications out of reach and out of easy accessible places such as the medicine cabinet
Take inventory of RX and OTC (over the counter) medications in your home on a regular basis to see that nothing is missing
Medication Disposal
It has been highly suggested that you do not flush your medications down the toilet. Find a medication take-back program to dispose of your meds properly.
CV CAN hosted Castro Valley’s first medication disposal event on Saturday, May 8, 2010 in the Safeway parking lot.
We collected over 300 pounds of prescriptions and over the counter medication, including 90 bottles of narcotic prescriptions. There was also a big need to dispose of sharps, which collected over 30 pounds. This event could not have happened without the help of our wonderful volunteer pharmacists and Alameda County Sheriff’s Office who was on site to supervise the event.
The ultimate goal is to involve key leaders within the community to establish a permanent site in Castro Valley, however in the meantime we would like to have another event sponsored by CV CAN as well as provides other medication take backs until this happens.
We need the communities help and support to push this effort off the ground. If you are interested in helping us establish a permanent site, please call CV CAN 510.537.3335 x1936
Listed are some places where you can get more information on medication disposal sites in our area. Please visit their website for more details on what they will accept. Not all locations will accept controlled substances.
Alameda County Household Hazadous Waste
State of California Sharps and Medications Disposal Directory
Dispose My Meds
Teleosis Institute
