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
It has been highly suggested that you do not flush your medications down the toilet. Find a take-back program to dispose of your meds properly.
Here are some local places where you can dispose of your unwanted prescriptions
CV CAN is working with the community to have a RX take-back program in 2010
