Taking time to dispose of prescription meds benefits both earth and body.

Seems like every day we hear more about kids, drugs and alcohol. I usually write about alcohol but this time, I’m writing about prescription drugs. Cortland Area Communities That Care (CACTC) and 7Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse are trying another approach to prevent easy access to drugs.

You may not be aware, but pharmacies are not licensed to “take-back” drugs. Currently, most people flush un-used, and/or old medications down the toilet thinking this is safe. It may make them unavailable to kids but is unhealthy for the environment. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now able to detect low levels of medication residue in water systems. We are uncertain what effect these low levels have on fish, wild life and humans.

The current recommendation is to crush them, place in a container and mix with water, salt, coffee grounds, cat litter, or ashes to make the medication very unpalatable and to enhance the destruction of the medication. Seal the container and place in trash.

CACTC has created a task force to explore the possibility of a “take-back” or local collection event. This becomes a major issue when controlled substances are involved. We will work closely with the local law enforcement agencies and the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement as well as other agencies to make this happen locally.

One and one half million American kids have reported that they have abused prescription drugs. Over two million American kids have intentionally abused cough syrup. Everyday 2,700 teens try a prescription medicine to get high for the first time. Half of teens do not see a great risk in abusing prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs. Teens believe that abuse of these drugs is safer then street drugs.

Where do they find prescription drugs? At home – on the counter, in the medicine cabinet, mom’s purse, grandparents home, and pill boxes.

Look around; see how you can make medications less available to others – not just, but especially, teens.

Jean Shields, R. N. is Patient Services Coordinator at Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc.