The non-medical use of prescription drugs has doubled since the 1990s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Today, unintentional drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. The dangers of misusing and abusing prescription medications are real and can pose a threat to your children now that school is back in session. That is why the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Foundation™ and their AWARXE Prescription Drug Safety Program promote awareness of prescription drug misuse.
Did you know many young adults and teens think that prescription drugs are safer to abuse than illegal controlled substances like cocaine or heroin? Yet painkillers, some of which are highly-regulated prescription controlled substances, cause overdoses that kill 46 people per day in the United States. Some students have reported turning to prescription drugs for a variety of reasons, including using painkillers or depressants to cope with stress or to feel good (get high). Others think that stimulants like Adderall® can help them study during finals or make it easier to lose weight. Regardless of the reason, using prescription drugs without medical supervision is never safe.
While preparing to go back to school this year, make sure to also clean out the medicine cabinet. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will bring back the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event. The 10th Take-Back Day event will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at participating locations nationwide. Take-Back day for the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015. A list of collection sites will be added to the AWARXE website once the information is made available by DEA.
To find out more about prevention, please visit: www.AWARErx.org.