| NH Department of Environmental Services
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Prescription drugs that are no longer needed should be disposed of
properly, such as through a community take-back program conducted with
law enforcement officials.
People without access to a take-back
program can follow these suggestions for proper disposal of prescription
drugs:
1. Take your prescription drugs out
of their original containers.
2. Mix drugs with an
undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.
3. Put
the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty
margarine tub, or into a sealable bag.
4. Conceal or
remove any personal information, including Rx number, on the empty
containers by covering it with black permanent marker or duct tape, or
by scratching it off.
5. Place the sealed container with
the mixture, and the empty drug containers, in the trash.
Do
not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label
or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so.
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Prescription Drugs: Weighing the Benefits and Risks Fact Sheet Prescription drugs are the second most abused category of drugs in the United States, following marijuana. When taken as directed for legitimate medical purposes, prescription drugs can be safe and effective. In fact, many people suffer needless pain from disease in the absence of appropriate, medically supervised access to analgesic medicines.
But while we must ensure better access to prescription drugs to alleviate suffering, it is also vital that we do all we can to curtail dangerous diversions and abuse of pharmaceuticals.
Because prescription drugs are legal, they are easily accessible, often from a home medicine cabinet. Further, some individuals who misuse prescription drugs, particularly teens, believe these substances are safer than illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare professional.
 According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among people age 12 or older who reported using pain relievers non-medically in the past year, 56 percent got the drug they most recently used from a friend or relative for free. Another 18 percent reported getting the drug from one doctor. Only about 4 percent reported obtaining pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger, and less than half of one-percent bought the drugs on the Internet. Among those who said they got the pain reliever from a friend or relative for free, 82 percent reported that the friend or relative had obtained the drugs from just one doctor. It is important, therefore, that we properly dispose of prescription drugs and not leave them where they can be used for non-medical reasons.
The most commonly misused prescription drugs fall into three classes: - Opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol)
- Central nervous system (CNS) depressants include pentobarbital (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax)
- Stimulants include methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Between 1998 and 2008, treatment admissions for prescription painkillers increased 460 percent, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). By taking a few simple steps, all of us can help decrease the abuse of pharmaceuticals:
Parents can educate their children about the dangers of misusing pharmaceuticals. Simply because a drug is prescribed by a doctor does not make it safe if abused. On the contrary, these drugs can be dangerous and even deadly.
Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Community Alliance for Teen Safety is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Our
mission is to promote safe habits for all youth by increasing awareness
of high-risk behaviors, encouraging healthy choices, and fostering
community alliances in Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem
and Windham.
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