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Healthy Tips

Proper Disposal of Rx Drugs

Most households have medicine cabinets or cupboards that hold the family’s prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Many of these medicines may be unused or expired. With the rapid increase in the number of teens abusing prescription and OTC drugs in recent years. It is important to clear out your cabinets and monitor remaining amounts regularly. click & see

To help you do this, the Office of National Drug Control Policy recently issued Federal guidelines on the proper disposal of your unused and expired medicines:

Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.

Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.

Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so.

Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Some communities have pharmaceutical take-back programs or community solid-waste programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Where these exist, they are a good way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals.

There are many other ways you can protect your teen and keep your teen from abusing prescription drugs:

1. Educate yourself and your teen about the risks.
2. Keep track of your medications.
3. Talk to friends, relatives and school administration.
4. Follow directions carefully.
5. Discard old or unused medications.
6. Monitor your teen’s time online.
7. Be observant.
Find other ways to relieve stress and have fun.
For more information, visit TheAntiDrug.com.

Source:ParentingTips@TheAntiDrug.com

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