Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinets, Help Save Lives

This week, join with Fairfax County Police in the 2010 Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout and drop off unused medication at your local police station.

This simple action can help prevent the abuse of prescription drugs by those around you. The 2008 Fairfax County Youth Survey indicates that approximately 3,100 high school students abused prescription drugs and/or over-the-counter drugs in the 30 days before they were surveyed.

Sam Wagner, the alcohol and drug counselor at Lake Braddock and Robinson Secondary Schools, strongly encouraged parents at his recent Bong Show presentation to participate in the cleanout and get rid of excess prescription drugs. According to the youth survey, there as many new users age 12 to 17 of prescription drugs as there are of marijuana.

Wagner said that parents should consider that even though their teenage children may not take the medication, their friends could easily rummage through cabinets in the bathroom to find these pills as well. He spoke of parties in which teenagers pour whatever pills they could grab into a bowl and take handfuls of them at a time to get high.  He also said that prescription pills were often part of a bartering system to trade for marijuana or other illegal drugs.

Medications in liquid or pill form may be dropped off at the West Springfield Police District Station this week -- no needles or pressurized containers will be accepted. Cross off your name and prescription number with a marker for extra safety -- Don't forget, this is National Protect Your Identity week as well.

Here are other actions you can take to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs in your family:

• Read the instructions provided with all prescribed medications to understand any risks and how to use the medicine safely.
• Discuss with your children the importance of taking medications according to directions only. Emphasize that your children should never take medicine without your knowledge.
• Supervise your child's use of medication. Particularly be wary of controlled medications such as those for ADD or ADHD.
• Keep track of the medicine you have in your house and secure it. Dispose of any expired and unused medication properly.