While prescription medicines benefit many different people – for many different conditions – when used appropriately, they are being increasingly misused and abused. In fact, behind alcohol and marijuana, the most common drugs teens abuse are prescription medications. The most commonly prescription misuse medications are opioids and pain relievers (Vicodin®, OxyContin®), barbiturates and benzodiazepines (Valium®, Xanax®) and stimulants (Dexedrine® or Adderall®, Ritalin® or Concerta®).
Teens who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are 50 percent less likely to use drugs. So we ask you to take action, talk to your children and teens today about the risks of prescription misuse and overdose. We also ask that you safely dispose of your medicine through our Medicine Take Back Program.
In addition, it is very important that you safegaurd your medicine cabinets throughout your home. Know what medications you have and how much, so you will know if anything is missing. Properly discard of any medicines you no longer need.
When medicine is no longer needed, it is important to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines from your home as quickly as possible to help reduce the chance that others may accidentally take or intentionally misuse the unneeded medicine.
Do you need conversation starters? Ice breakers or just knowing how to have a conversation with your child about the dangers of prescription abuse? We have partnered with TalkSooner, a website that will help in providing everything you need to have a productive conversation. In addition, you can visit their website for specific information on prescription abuse.