Safe storage of medications saves lives

As you prepare your home for the warmer months ahead, pay special attention to how you store medications.

Prescription drug abuse is an epidemic affecting our nation's teens, with misuse and abuse levels on the rise in Iowa.

Nearly half all drug deaths can be attributed to prescription drug abuse, more than all street drugs combined. It's the second most abused drug among teens, with a recent nationwide survey finding that nearly a quarter of high school students have abused prescription drugs.

Part of what makes prescription drug abuse so troubling is the lack of teens' understanding of its implications. Surveys have found nearly half teens believe prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs, a very misguided notion.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University has found troubling correlations between teen prescription drug abuse and street drug abuse. Teens who abuse prescription drugs were five times as likely to use marijuana, twice as likely to use alcohol, and anywhere from 12 to 20 times more likely to use other illicit drugs.

How can abuse be this widespread? Simply put, prescription drugs are easy to get. Surveys among teen abusers found 60-70 percent obtained their drugs from home medicine cabinets. Such cabinets are easily accessed and placed in a part of the house with a very high level of privacy. A few missing pills can easily go undetected, especially if expired, excess or un-inventoried medications are stored.

Unlocked medications also represent a risk to young children. Medications disposed of improperly in the trash, left on countertops or stored in easily reached cabinets run the risk of children finding and ingesting them. This can lead to serious health complications including poisonings.

There are practical, common sense ways to ensure your prescriptions are stored safely. Count your pills. Keep track of how long bottles should last and how many should be left. Keep medications in a locked box or pouch, which are available at many pharmacies and general stores, placed in a discreet, elevated and dry location.

Finally, properly dispose of unused and expired medication. Flushing those in the toilet or putting them in the trash represent a safety hazard, and presents harm to the environment. Instead, visit one of the anonymous drug drop off boxes near you, including every Linn County law enforcement office.

' Jeffrey Meyers is an ASAC prevention specialist in Cedar Rapids. Comments: jmeyers@asac.us