Welcome to the Rx Drug Prevention Committee
Jump to:—Statistics—|—Safe Practices—|—Safety Lock Box—|—Tips for Parents—|—Warning Signs—|—Parental Tool Kits—|—Rx Drop-Off Locations
Statistics
Prescription medications can help us live longer and healthier lives, but any medication has the potential to do harm, especially when misused. Ensure medication safety by practicing Safe Use, Safe Storage, and Safe Disposal of your medicines.
- Nearly 54% of those who misuse prescription pain relievers get them from family or friends
- 4 out of 5 people who started using heroin in the past year had previously used pain relievers non-medically
- Every day, more than 115 people die from an opioid overdose (including prescription medications and heroin)
- Every day, more than 5,700 Americans misuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time
- Many youth mistakenly think that it is safer to misuse prescription medications than illegal drugs
Safe Medication Practices
Safe Usage
General safe practices
Prescription:
- Only take as prescribed or directed by a healthcare professional or on product labeling. Contact your prescriber or pharmacist if you experience and side effects or allergic reactions
- Do not share prescription medications with anyone as this is illegal.
Over the Counter (OTC):
- Know the dose
- Read the Drug Facts on the package
- Make sure children know that using OTC medicines incorrectly can cause harm.
Prescription medications with potential for misuse and abuse
- Opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine)
- Depressants (Xanax, Valium, Ambien)
- Stimulants (drugs for ADHD: Ritalin, Adderall)
Risk Factors for overdose and misuse
- Combining prescription opioids, anxiety, or stimulants with each other or with alcohol
- Taking more than prescribed
- Taking illicit or illegal opioids, like heroin or fentanyl, that could contain harmful substances
Safe Storage
- Store in a secure place out of reach of others instead of keeping handy
- Avoid storage places where children and others can easily access such as drawers, nightstands, kitchen cabinets
- Remember to re-lock the cap on your medicine bottles
- Use a lockbox or other lockable device to secure medications from misuse or theft
- Consider a medication safety box to secure medicines and to start the conversation with children about safe storage of medication
Safe Disposal
- Block out any personal information on prescription containers before disposing of empty container.
- Do not flush medications down the toilet or drain so they do not enter our water supplies
- Dispose of unused medications and do not store for future use. Visitors in your home, including youth, may search medication cabinets for medications to assist in their addiction.
- Get a FREE Deterra® Drug Deactivation Bag to dispose of your unwanted medication. Users place medication in the bag’s pouch, fill it halfway with warm tap water, let the bag sit open for 30 seconds, then seal it, shake it and toss it into the trash. Pouches are made from environmentally friendly materials, so they are biodegradable and safe for the environment.
- Use Drug Take Back days or permanent prescription drug disposal locations (www.OhioRxDisposal.com) to dispose of expired or unused medications.
Alternative Pain Management
- Over the counter pain medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen)
- Acupuncture or massage
- Applying heat or ice
Rx Medication Safety Lock Box
Secure your medications at home today!
If you would like a lock box, please contact Empower Tusc here.
- Use a medication safety box to remove ease of access to medications in order to avoid accidents and overdose incidents.
- These medication safety boxes are child resistant and senior-friendly.
- Use them at home or when traveling.
- The medicine safety box uses a patented 4 digit combination-lock to easily secure your medications
Tips for Parents
Be Part of the Solution!
Parents have a strong influence in shaping kids’ attitudes about drugs. Be a positive one! Help your child or teen avoid prescription drug abuse problems.
- Talk about medication misuse with your children
- Know the facts about drug abuse
- Kids that learn about drug risks from their parents are nearly 50% less likely to use drugs than other kids
- Don’t just talk; let them ask questions in a 2-way dialogue
- Be involved in your child’s day to day activities and lives
Warning Signs
Signs and Symptoms of Abuse:
- Fatigue, red or glazed eyes, and repeated health complaints
- Sudden mood changes, including irritability, negative attitude, personality changes, disrupted sleeping or eating patterns.
- Secretiveness and withdrawing from family
- Hanging out with a different crowd
- Less interest in school and hobbies
- Missing prescription medicines from your medicine cabinet
Signs and Symptoms of Overdose:
- Dilated pupils
- Unsteady walking
- Chest pain
- Severe difficulty breathing, shallow breathing, or complete cessation of breath
- Gurgling sounds that indicate the person’s airway is blocked
- Blue lips or fingers
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abnormally high body temperature
- Violent or aggressive behavior
- Disorientation or confusion
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Convulsions or tremors
- Seizures
- Unresponsiveness
- Unconsciousness
Parental Tool Kits
The best prevention of youth substance abuse comes through parental conversations. Learn how to properly educate your children about the dangers of substance abuse. After all, if they don’t learn about substance abuse from you, they’ll learn about it from someone else. Take control of the situation and talk to your kids today!
Secure Rx Medication Drop-Off Sites
Dispose of expired, unwanted medications at home with a drug deactivation bag.
- Block out any personal information on prescription containers before disposing of an empty container.
- Do not flush medications down the toilet or drain so they do not enter our water supplies.
- Dipose ofunused medications and do not store for future use.
- Use Drug Take Back Days or permanent prescription drug disposal locations to dispose of expired or unused medications.
You can dispose your medications at these secure Rx drug drop-off box locations throughout Tuscarawas County.
Secure Rx Medication Drop-Off Sites
Dispose of expired, unwanted medications at home with a drug deactivation bag.
- Block out any personal information on prescription containers before disposing of an empty container.
- Do not flush medications down the toilet or drain so they do not enter our water supplies.
- Dipose ofunused medications and do not store for future use.
- Use Drug Take Back Days or permanent prescription drug disposal locations to dispose of expired or unused medications.
You can dispose your medications at these secure Rx drug drop-off box locations throughout Tuscarawas County.
Tuscarawas County Sherrif’s Office
2295 Reiser Avenue SE
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
330-339-7713
(drop-off in lobby, 24/7)
Newcomerstown Police Department
124 W. Church St.
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
740-498-6161
(call prior to drop-off)
Sugarcreek Police Department
126 S. Broadway
Sugarcreek, OH 44681
330-852-2212
(drop-off 24/7, call prior to drop-off)
New Philadelphia Police Department
122 2nd St. SE
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
330-343-4488
(call prior to drop-off)
Strasburg Police Department
358 5th St.
Strasburg, OH 44680
330-878-7011
(6am – 2pm, call prior to drop-off)
Dennison Police Department
302 Grant St. (2nd Floor)
Dennison, OH 44621
740-922-3131
(drop-off 24/7, call prior to drop-off)
