"Take Back" Easy Access to Prescription

and Over-the-Counter Medications

Parents: Are you planning to sell your home in the near future? If so, will potential buyers (aka "strangers") have access to your bathroom and kitchen cabinets or be alone in your bedrooms -- all the places you keep your meds? Do your kids bring friends home? Will grandma be your child's drug supplier because no one cleaned out her old meds?

Never leave prescription and

over-the-counter medications accessible

How can you prevent accidental poisonings and medicine abuse in Howard County? How can you help to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean? Participate in...

National Drug Take Back Day: Saturday, September 27th

Clean out your medicine cabinets and bring your expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications to one of the 9 convenient locations in Howard County this Saturday from 10:00 AM to

2:00 PM. Click here for a list of locations. We thank our partner, the Howard County Police Department, for staffing this semi-annual event, standing with us throughout the year and keeping our community safe.

HC DrugFree's Office is the only location

accepting needles, syringes and EpiPens.

Teens Say: The results of a 2012 survey of teen drug use conducted by the Partnership for Drug Free Kids showed:

1 in 6 teens has abused a pain reliever such as Oxycontin or Vicodin
1 in 8 teens has abused the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall for nonmedical purposes
1 in 8 teens has reported getting high on over-the-counter cough syrup

Learn more at http://medicineabuseproject.org/the-problem

Tips for Preventing Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Participate in the upcoming September 27, 2014 National Take Back Day.
Purchase a secured medicine box, bag or safe. For more information on these items, contact HC DrugFree.
Secure and monitor the quantities of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Cough syrup and decongestants can be abused by teens.
Minimize drug use at home to set a better example for teens. Don't share medications or use prescription drugs without having a prescription.
Educate teens about the risks of taking prescription and over-the-counter drugs for non-medical purposes. Narcotic painkillers and anti-anxiety medications can suppress respiration, especially when combined with alcohol. Other medicines when taken together can have toxic effects on the kidneys, liver, nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Team up with the parents of your teen's friends. Know where teens are gathering.

The TODAY Show Highlights Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

September 19, 2014 - In the TODAY Show series "Secret Life of Teens", TODAY talks about the prescription drug abuse problem, not only among adults but also among children. Click here to watch the video presentation.

The Twelve Drugs that Send the Most Kids to the Emergency Room

September 15, 2014 - Twelve common drugs were responsible for 45% of all hospital admissions of children. These medications are used to treat pain, blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety. These medicines need to remain in secured locations to prevent children and others from access to them. Click here to read the article.

Drug and Alcohol Questions for Us?

Parents, please forward your alcohol and other drug questions to HC DrugFree's Executive Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi at [email protected], 443-325-0040 or mail to Joan's attention so your specific needs can be addressed by local experts. Other parents probably have the same questions, so HC DrugFree will run the Q & A in future updates or add them to the Q & A list on our website.

All questions remain anonymous.

If You or Someone You Care about Needs Help,

Please Visit Our Facts and Resources Page

http://www.hcdrugfree.org/factsresources.html

Scroll to the Box of Hotlines and Services to see many of our partners including:

The Howard County Health Department

The Serenity Center (for 12-step meetings)

Treatment Providers...and much more!

Please consider donating as little as $25 to support our work and become a Friend of HC DrugFree and your name will be listed on our website. Visit www.hcdrugfree.org for a complete list of our Friends and Sponsors. Thank you for your support!