5 Tips To Protect Against Prescription Drug Abuse

America, we have a problem; prescription drug abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four American teenagers have abused prescription medications, and 44 people die every day as a direct result from prescription painkiller overdose. What gives?

Well, now more than ever before medical professionals tasked with helping patients manage their pain have been prescription happy in the worst way possible. Doctors are getting a lot of flack for prescribing a surplus of potent opiate pain medications, when they may not be necessary at all. Doctors have a medley of other options to prescribe patients, but heavily rely on opiates like Vicodin, Oxycodone, OxyContin, Oxymorphone, Opana, and Methadone.

As a result, addiction rates and overdose deaths around the nation have skyrocketed, decimating entire communities and leaving wakes of mourning families. Not to mention, those same people who become addicted to a medication their doctors prescribe them turn to heroin to fuel their addiction once they run out of prescriptions.

There's something you can do in your home and everyday life to help lessen the proliferation of dangerous prescription medications and that doesn't just mean opiates.

We're not saying it's wrong to take prescription opiates when you're in severe need, but what we are saying is there are other alternatives to opiates which may be more effective, and exceedingly less dangerous. By following simple safety precautions you can help keep your loved ones safe by responsibly managing your prescriptions and your medicine cabinet.

Why didn't you think of this before? Tip #1

Request other forms of pain management. Opiates aren't the go-to drugs the medical field would have us believe; in fact, studies show combinations of ibuprofen and acetaminophen are more effective than their opiate counterparts. Also, stretching, and certain physical therapy exercises can help manage pain naturally, and may allow patients with mild to moderate pain skip opiates all together.

Super secret opiate crusher: #2

If you just can't manage to get around opiates, lock your cabinets! Many curious teens have a way of finding their ways into unfamiliar bottles, much like the way infants put everything in their mouths! Avoiding substance abuse can be as simple as investing in a lock. Not only does this secure your immediate family, but it can also protect visiting friends and guests.

Get rid of it! Tip #3

If you have old prescriptions laying around from your surgery four months ago, get rid of them! Counties have safe prescription disposals available for use, because they understand the dire necessity of eliminating potentially addictive opiates from homes and communities and you should too! That "save it for the winter" mentality could come back to bite you in the bum if your furry friends (which can be immediately deadly to them), or loved ones somehow get ahold of powerful medications. It's not just opiates that are addictive, a number of people become physically and mentally dependent on depressants and stimulants including Xanax and Adderall.

Count em! #4

If you're actively taking a prescription medication, be responsible and keep count! That may seem like a pain, but you may not realize if one or two pills go missing and you definitely don't want to wait until five or six do. Some potent pain medications and other prescriptions establish physical dependency quickly. And that brings us to. . .

Speak up about the potential dangers of addiction! #5

If you know you've introduced a potentially hazardous substance into your home, speak up! Preventing substance abuse and addiction really can be as simple as spreading what you know, and teaching your loved ones about the potential for abuse for prescription medications. And you don't have to stop there, continue the conversation about the disease of addiction as it relates to commonly found household items and illicit substances.

Without talking about the bigger issues, we'll never overcome the opiate epidemic. So say it loud and say it proud! Annoying your loved ones now is a lot better than finding them dead from an overdose.

Above content is provided by Harbor Village Detox & Treatment Center.