Stop Prescription Drug Abuse!
Teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high.
Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are using to get high are prescription medications.
Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high.
The majority of teens get prescription drugs easily and for free, often from friends or relatives.
Pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused prescription drugs by teens.
What can you do to stop abuse?
Do not store medications in your medicine cabinet! All prescription and non prescription medications should be stored in a locked container. Household visitors, workers and family members will look in your medicine cabinet first for prescription medications to take.
Do not carry prescription medications in your purse or car in large quantities. If you need to take prescription medication with you, ask your pharmacist for a small labeled bottle to carry minimal quantities.
Do not offer your prescription medication to others, even if their symptoms appear to be the same as yours. Prescription medications are prescribed only for the person intended to receive them, giving then to another person is illegal.
Do not discuss your use of prescription medications openly with others. This can put you at risk for theft of your medication.
DO discuss with your physician/dentist the quantity and type of medications you need. For example after dental work or minor office procedure you may only need 5 to 10 tablets of a pain medication, to help reduce the amount of unwanted prescription medications in your home.
DO dispose of unwanted prescription and non prescription medications properly. Do not flush medications into sewer or septic systems. If you are unsure how to dispose of unwanted medications, check with your pharmacist or participate in community drug take backs.
DO discuss the danger of prescription medications with your children and teens! Inform them that prescription medications can kill them if not used properly. Prescription medications are not a safer alternative to illicit drugs.
For more information on how to talk to your children & teens about drugs: http://www.theantidrug.com
http://www.drugfree.org
Excerpts from http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/prescr_drg_abuse.html
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