Prescription Abuse Prevention

Prescription Drug Abuse Work Team

Welcome to our Montcalm County Prescription Drug Abuse Work Team! Our work team was formed to educate the public on the dangers of prescription drug abuse and organize informational sessions for providers and the public. If you would like to become involved in this effort, please contact Jodie Faber, Coalition Coordinator at coordinator@montcalmprevention.org.

Prescription Drug Abuse Often Starts at Home

Prescription drug abuse continues to grow at an alarming rate. The problem often starts at home, where people begin abusing medication from their own medicine cabinet. Some people experiment with prescription drugs because they think they will have more fun, lose weight, fit in, or study more effectively. Others think prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than street drugs, but that’s just not so.

Prescription drugs abused most often:

  • Opioids: usually prescribed to treat pain. Examples include Oxycontin and Vicodin.
  • Central nervous system depressants: usually prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Examples include Xanax and Valium
  • Stimulants: Usually prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Examples include Concerta and Adderall.

How Can Parents Protect Their Children?

  • Talk to your kids about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. Let them know that experimenting with prescription drugs can lead to addiction, overdose or even death.
  • Make sure teens understand abusing prescription drugs is illegal, including sharing them with friends.
  • Be a positive role model when using prescription drugs.
  • Educate teens about following medication instructions and dosages.
  • Supervise your child’s activities, know who their friends are, and monitor their surroundings.
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 Properly Dispose of Medication

It is very important that you safeguard your medicine cabinets throughout your home. Know what medications you have and how much, so you will know if anything is missing. When medicine is no longer needed, it is important to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines from your home as quickly as possible to help reduce the chance that others may accidentally take or intentionally misuse the unneeded medicine.

Visit one of Montcalm County's 5 approved medication disposal location centers to properly dispose of your unwanted medication. *Disposing of medication in the trash or flushing it down the toilet is unsafe.Â