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Home > News
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| Tuesday, June 29, 2010
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10:14 AM
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Contact: Debra Thompson
Director, RMH Corporate Communications
540-564-5886
Every day, more than 4,000 children and young adults begin experimenting with prescription drugs, and the source of these medications is often their own parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets.
According to a 2008 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only about 5 percent of children who abuse prescription drugs say they get the medication from a stranger, a drug dealer or the Internet.
“Prevent children from abusing your own medication by securing your meds in places children cannot access, and by disposing of meds properly,” says Marilyn Turner, health promotion specialist, RMH Community Health. “Do not dispose of medications in the sink or toilet because they can contaminate the community water supply.”
Here’s how you can safely dispose of prescription medications:
- Remove the medications from the pill bottle and put them in a container with a lid or into a sealable baggie. If the medication is solid, crush it or add water to dissolve it.
- Mix in something to make medications “undesirable” (kitty litter, coffee grounds) to pets and children. As an added safety precaution, place the baggie in another sealable container.
- Throw the container in the trash.
- Remove or cover identifying information on pill bottle before discarding.
“By taking these precautions, you can do your part to keep our children safe and our waters clean,” Turner added.
For more information on Substance Abuse Prevention contact the Strong Families/Great Youth Coalition at 540.433.4421, or visit the Web site at www.sfgyc.com.
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