BY AMBER LARNA, THE DRUG COALITION
Unused or expired prescription medications are a safety issue in our community. Use of prescription medications without a doctor’s recommendation can be just as dangerous as using illegal drugs and can have serious health effects, including poisoning, addiction and overdose. According to the Drug Enforcement Association’s website, www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com, 46 people die each day from an overdose of prescription painkillers.
Unfortunately, many teens are using opioid pain relievers and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to get high. Opioid or narcotic pain relievers include Vicodin, OxyContin, Opana, and Methadone. Teens often obtain these drugs in their homes or from friends. Many teens believe incorrectly that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs because:
- They are medicines
- They can be obtained from doctors, dentists, friends, or family members
According to a 2014 survey conducted in Idaho, 15 percent of Blaine County 12th-graders reported getting pills from friends and 5 percent from home, as did 6 percent and 5 percent of 10th-graders, respectively. (2014 Idaho Prevention Survey). Furthermore, 30 percent of 11th-graders that reported obtaining prescription drugs not prescribed for them obtained them from home. (Junior Class survey, October, 2014).
As a parent or caregiver, it is important to keep track of your medicines:
- Keep your medicines safe and secure in a locked medicine cabinet
- Avoid keeping prescription painkillers or sedatives around “just in case”
- Do not sell or share prescription drugs
- Dispose of old or expired medicines or unused prescription drugs safely
The Blaine County Drug Coalition is partnering with local pharmacies, law enforcement and St. Luke’s Wood River to make it easy to safely and properly dispose of your medications year-round. Throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet is not a good solution as it may harm the environment and could be stolen from the trash.
Drop box locations include:
- Blaine County Sheriff’s Department
- City of Hailey Police Department
- City of Ketchum Police Department
- Luke’s Pharmacy
- St. Luke’s Wood River (Physician Office Annex, 1st floor)
- ‘The’ Drug Store – to be installed
- Valley Apothecary
This Saturday, April 30th, is National Take-Back Day. The Drug Coalition and the Blaine County Sheriff’s Department will be at the following locations for you to dispose of your prescription medications. It’s free, anonymous, no questions asked and helps to make our community safer!
- Carey City Hall: 9–10 a.m.
- Bellevue City Hall: 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Hailey City Hall: 12–1 p.m.
- Ketchum Town Square: 1:30–2:30 p.m.
For more information, visit thedrugcoaltion.org or call (208) 578-5466.
It’s your life. We help you live it.
