SAFE USE

Take medications exactly as prescribed

Using prescription medicine properly is important for the safety and health of those in your family,  Follow these guidelines to ensure safety:

• Only take medicine that is prescribed to you.
• Make a list of medicines you are taking now. Include the does, how often you take them, the imprint on each tablet or capsule and the name of the pharmacy. 
• Any time your medications change, change your list. Double-check the imprints on the tablets and capsules.
• List your medication and food allergies and any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements or herbal products that you take regularly. 
• Keep medications in their original containers. Many pills look alike, this way you’ll know which pill it is. 
• Never take someone else’s medication. You don’t know if it will interact with your medications, the dose may be wrong or you or may be allergic. 
• Read the label every time you take a dose, to make sure you have the right drug and the correct instructions.
• Turn the lights on – if you can’t see what you’re taking you may take the wrong thing.
• Don’t store medications in the bathroom or in direct sunlight. Humidity, heat and light can affect medications’ potency and safety.
• Don’t chew, crush or break capsules or tablets unless instructed.  Some long lasting medications are absorbed too fast other won’t be as effective or could make you sick.
• To give liquid medication, use only the cup or other measuring device that came with it. Dosing errors can happen because the cups are often different sizes or have different markings.

 SAFE STORAGE

Store prescription drugs in locked and secure locations.

Safeguarding prescription medicine properly is easy and important for the health and safety of your family and others who come into your home.  The do’s and don’ts of safe medicine storage.

• DO lock up your medicine in a cabinet, drawer or medicine safe. 
• DO keep medicine in a cool, dry place that is out of reach of children.
• DO store your medicine in it’s original container – the label has important information.
• DO keep an updated list of all your prescription medicine.  Take an inventory at least twice a year – when clocks change, for example.
• DO ask your community pharmacist about disposing of unused or unwanted medicine.
• DON’T leave medicine in places that are easily accessible to children and pets.
• DON’T store medications in the bathroom where humidity, temperature and light can affect medications’ potency and safety.
• DON’T share prescription medicine. Healthcare professionals prescribe specific medicine for individuals based on personal medical histories and other health factors. Medicine that works for one person may cause harm – even death – to someone else.
• DON’T take medicine in front of children, who often mimic adults.

•  SAFE DISPOSAL

Properly dispose of medication that you no longer need

This is important because:

Misuse is prevalent! Misuse of prescription drugs has increased among teens and young adults due to the ease of obtaining them. 50% of youth who misuse drugs, get htem from family and friends.

It’s your environment! Please don’t flush! Drugs that are flushed may pass through sewage treatment plants and septic tanks. These substances are released into waterways with the wastewater which can lead to adjacent soil and groundwater.

You can make a difference! Drugs can be scavenged and sold illegally. Take action to minimize the threat of accidental poisoning or drug misuse. 

DROP-OFF INSTRUCTIONS:

• Bring personal meds only to drop-off locations
• Use a permanent marker to blackout your name and personal information on the label.
• Take medications to the drop-off locations during drop-off hours.
• Place medications in the designated drop-off box. 

 SPREAD THE WORD

Promote safe medicine practices and teach others to do the same