Are you hosting a gathering over the holidays? You've got your house beautifully decorated, the food is ready and your guests are arriving. But wait what about the young woman who just disappeared upstairs to the bathroom. Have you secured your prescription medications or does she now have full access to your medicine cabinet and its contents?
Whether it's the holiday season or any other time of year, limiting access and availability of prescription medications in your home can be easily done. The reason you really want to consider doing this? Seventy percent of the one in five teens who abuse prescription drugs say they got their drugs from a friend or relative. Here are some suggestions:
SECURE: All medications should be safely stored in a lock box, including those that require refrigeration.
MONITOR: It's important to know what's inside the lock box by regularly monitoring its contents. Take extra care if you store prescription pain medications, as these are the most highly abused drugs.
DISPOSE: Properly disposing of your unused or expired medications is easy in our three counties. All three sheriffs' offices and many of the township police departments have disposal containers in their lobbies where you simply drop the prescription bottle in the container.
Holidays can be stressful. By considering and acting on - the above, you have just reduced one level of stress. Happy holidays!
The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board is committed to sharing information and resources for better mental health and the prevention of substance abuse. If you would like more information, please call the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties at (419) 448-0640. The board's office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Nancy Cochran,
executive director
