During this month of October, we are recognizing National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month to help spread awareness about prescription (Rx) drug and over-the-counter (OTC) drug misuse and abuse. In regards to the youth, teen use of medication should be closely supervised by a physician or parent because sharing, misusing, or abusing medications (both Rx and OTC) has the potential to be morbidly dangerous. Some medications are classified as opioids or contain certain ingredients (i.g., dextromethorphan (DXM), etc.), all extremely potent and highly addictive for teens with their underdeveloped bodies and brains.
Here at CCAPSA, Inc, we encourage all parents/guardians to securely lock away all current/active medications in the house as a way to prevent access. Preventing access can prevent use, which can lead to misuse, which can then lead to addiction or even more fatal outcomes. We also encourage proper and safe disposal of unused or expired medications, which is another way to reduce and limit access. Its is vitally important that proper disposal practices are implemented when it comes to Rx and OTC medications. When medications are thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet or a drain, the chemicals that comprise them contaminate our water supply or the soil of our environment (which can then also access our water supply). The benefit of proper disposal protects us from this even occurring. Such actions include dropping off medications at a year-round drop off site in your community where the facility or certified professionals will dispose of the medications for you. A link to help find a drug disposal site in your community can be found in the “Resources” section below. An alternative way is the use of DisposeRx at-home medication disposal packets. When you mix the powder in these packets with your medication and water, it deactivates the medicine making it safe to dispose in the trash or down a drain. For more information about this product or how to obtain packets for you and your family, you can follow this link! –>DisposeRx Packets
Resources