Medicine Abuse and Your Teenager

Summer is coming and teens will have more free time on their hands. 

Parents need to learn as much as they can about over the counter (OTC) medicine abuse, it is just as risky and dangerous as street drugs.

What can you do?


We can all play a role in ending medicine abuse.  By working together, parents and grandparents, health care providers,  community leaders and educators can truly make a difference. Here are 7 things you can do to help:


1. Take The Pledge. Visit http://www.medicineabuseproject.org
2. Safeguard Your Medicine. Keep prescription medicine in a secure place, count and monitor the number of pills you have and lock up your medicine.
3. Dispose Properly of Your Unused Medicine. Learn how to safely dispose of medicine at home — and find a medicine take-back site near you.
4. Educate Yourself. Find helpful resources for Parents & Grandparents, Health Care Providers, Communities & Law Enforcement officials and Educators.
5. Share What You Know. If you’re a parent, share information with family, friends and neighbors. If you’re a doctor or other health care provider, share educational materials with your patients. If you’re a community leader or law enforcement official, share information with the people in your community. If you’re a teacher, school nurse or administrator, share information with the parents and students in your school.
6. If You Are a Parent: Talk to your kids about the risks of abusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter cough medicine. Children who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs than those who do not get that critical message at home.
7. Get Help. If you think your child has a problem with prescription drugs or over-the counter cough medicine, please visit Time To Get Help or call our Parents Toll-Free Helpline to speak to a parent specialist at 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373).

Thank you for doing your part to help end the medicine abuse epidemic.

Source: Medicine Abuse Project

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