Prescription Drug Abuse

The abuse of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines is the fastest growing form of substance abuse.

Properly disposing of unused or expired medications helps prevent access to drugs that can be abused, helps prevent unintentional poisonings and also protects the environment. SAFE, in partnership with the Virginia Poison Center and Chesterfield County, held a Medication Cleanout on April 17 at the Chesterfield fairgrounds. Over 100 persons participated and nearly three 50-gallon containers of expired or unneeded medications were collected.

What if you couldn't attend the event? How should you dispose of your prescription and over the counter medications? Learn how.

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In response to the increasing problem of prescription-drug and over-the-counter medication abuse, SAFE hosted a town hall meeting in October 2009 as its first step in addressing these issues. “A Dose of Prevention: Stopping Medicine Abuse Before It Starts” featured national and local experts who spoke on cough medicine abuse, abuse of medications among the elderly, consequences of prescription drug abuse and strategies to prevent abuse. The event was co-sponsored and supported by 22 other local and state coalitions and organizations.

prescription drug abuse

Elizabeth Funderburk, Consumer Health Products Association, shares information about cough medicine abuse.

prescription drug abuse

Audience members listen to speakers at the town hall meeting on medicine abuse.

Nationally, prescription drug abuse kills more teens than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines combined.

The 2007 survey of youth in Chesterfield County revealed that past 30-day use of prescription narcotics and sedatives by high school seniors was 40 percent above the national average.

Although the survey did not contain questions about cough medicine abuse, anecdotal data from treatment providers indicates this is a problem among Chesterfield teens as well.

Friends and family are the most common source of prescription drugs misused by youths in the U.S. Around one-half of youths who reported misusing prescription stimulants, tranquilizers or sedatives in the past year said that they most recently obtained the medication for free from friends or family.

What can parents do?
  • Educate yourself
    Learn what types of prescription drugs can be abused. Ask the doctor or pharmacist when you receive a prescription whether it has potential for abuse.
  • Talk with your teen
    Find out what they know about prescription drug or cough medicine abuse. Teens often think that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs, which is not true.
  • Set clear rules
    Tell your teen to never take medications that have not been prescribed for them, share their medications with others or take their own medications in greater quantities than prescribed.