What do you do with that left over pain medicine prescription from that wisdom tooth extraction? What do you do with those antibiotics you could only take two or three of until they made you sicker than the bronchitis you were trying to get rid of?
Well, Clarendon Behavioral Health Services hopes you will come turn in those and other leftover medications at its next Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign, which will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 27.
CBHS Director Ann Kirven said medications left over from serious illnesses, particularly medications prescribed for pain, are one of the leading causes of drug addiction among young people.
“Help Clarendon County save our children by keeping prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of the hands of young people,” Kirven said in a file story about the 2013 Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated in 2010 that 2.4 million Americans used prescription drugs non-medically. The survey further postulated that more than 7,000 people join that number each day in misusing or mixing prescription and over-the-counter drugs with the intention of getting “high.”
“Clean out your medicine cabinet. Do not flush them down the toilet or throw them away at the recycle centers,” Kirven said.
The Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to dispose of the unused drugs, and “no questions will be asked,” said Caroline Grant.
“Today, many young people assume that taking or mixing prescription drugs is safer than using known hard drugs like cocaine or heroin,” Grant said. “This is simply not true. The most commonly abused over-the-counter drugs are cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan.”
Kirven said that, when abused, prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be addictive and put abusers at risk for other health effects, including overdose and death – especially when combined with other drugs or alcohol.
Kirven said medications which have mind-altering properties are also frequently misused by persons seeking a high. She added that over-the-counter drugs are, after marijuana and alcohol, the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of people entering treatment services who are addicted to pain medication,” Kirven said. “These prescription painkillers are often sold on the streets and are very expensive.”
Kirven said folks needing these medications regularly should always keep them in a safe and secure location.
“Many young people report getting their pain medication from family and friends,” she said.
