SAFE Glen Cove Coalition: Lock Up Your Meds!

On Monday, January 13th a presentation was conducted by SAFE’s Social Worker, Francesca Carbone at the Glen Cove Senior Center on the dangers of unauthorized prescription drug use. The presentation, entitled “Lock Your Meds!” Lock Your Meds, is a national multi-media campaign designed to reduce prescription drug abuse by making adults aware that they are the “unwitting suppliers” of prescription medications being used in unintended ways, especially by young people.

The presentation educated seniors about the measures they can take to prevent prescription medication abuse in their home. Most importantly, prescription opioids. About half (53%) of abused medications come from family and friends, not a stranger/drug dealer or the internet. Lock Your Meds encourages people to secure and take regular inventory of their medication so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

The abuse of prescription medication by youth and teens is on the rise. Teens believe prescription medications provide a legal and “medically safe high.” What teens don’t realize is that doctor prescribed meds are based on that patient’s age, weight, condition, and when consumed by someone other than the patient it presents a health hazard. Teens are also under the misperception that these medications are less addictive and dangerous than street drugs. Teens are attending “pharm or rainbow parties” where various prescription medications are dumped into a bowl or spread out on a table and randomly ingested. Most likely they are ingested with the alcohol supplied at the very same party.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most commonly misused substances by Americans age 14 and older, after marijuana and alcohol. The first line of defense in prescription drug abuse prevention starts in the home stated Ms. Carbone “We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit the Senior Center and spread this important message.”

For more information please visit www.drugabuse.gov. For more information about Lock Up Your Meds please visit www.lockyourmeds.org.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a United States federal-government research institute whose mission is to "lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.” For more information please visit www.drugabuse.gov.

SAFE, Inc. is the only alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention and education agency in the City of Glen Cove. Its Coalition is conducting an opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled, "Keeping Glen Cove SAFE," in order to educate and update the community regarding opioid use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencove or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic at www.safeglencove.org.