Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.
The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends — and the home medicine cabinet.
Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. But if a program is not available:
• Take the meds out of their bottles;
• Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds;
• Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away.
For more information on prescription drug abuse, go to:
• www.DEA.gov
• www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com • www.JustThinkTwice.com
