During the holiday season, as families and friends gather together to share their joys, be sure to prevent those you love from taking prescription drugs incorrectly or without a prescription.
According to the recently released Monitoring the Future Survey, which surveyed 46,773 8th, 10th and 12th-graders from over 400 public and private schools, more than 70% of 12th graders using prescription narcotics for nonmedical use obtained them from a friend or relative. What does this mean for the holiday season? The opportunity for friends and families, especially adolescents and teenagers, to go through your medicine cabinet or travel bag increases.
To avoid that situation, there are certain precautionary measures that can be taken.
Tip 1: Take your prescriptions out of your medicine cabinet or travel bag and hide them out of reach of minors or lock them up in a safe.
Tip 2: Count the number of prescriptions you have in your house or on your person and the number of pills in each prescription. Check them each day to make sure you aren’t missing any pills.
Tip 3: Dispose of prescriptions that are no longer used or have expired by placing them inside a can or small plastic bag full of garbage so that the pills are not desirable.
Tip 4: Read the label of your prescription drugs – if it says not to take with alcohol, be sure to avoid alcohol at holiday gatherings.
Tip 5: Talk to your family and friends about securing their home and the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
Based on information from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), prescription drug abuse has increased 400% from 1998 to 2008 and is the second most prevalent form of illicit drug use in America. Help prevent misuse and abuse this holiday season by following the simple tips listed here.
For more information, visit the Partnership at Drugfree.org at “Not in My House.” http://notinmyhouse.drugfree.org/default.aspx
