Building a community where every family thrives

Safe Meds

What is Prescription Drug Abuse?

Most people take medicines only for the reasons their doctors prescribe them. But an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. This is prescription drug abuse. It is a serious and growing problem. (Source: National Institute of Health).

Prescription and over the counter medications should only be taken:

At the Right time
In the Right dosage
For the Right reason
By the Right person the medication was prescribed by the doctor.

Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, says “The nonmedical use or abuse of prescription drugs is a serious and growing public health problem in this country. Most people take prescription medications responsibly; however, an estimated 48 million people (ages 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetimes."

Why is it Important to store and dispose of all medications safely?

Safe disposal of prescription medications is becoming a greater public health issue due to the increase in the number of people who abuse prescription medications. Keep your medications in a safe, out of reach place. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, each day approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time and a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Nebraska City Police Chief Dave Lacy says "We are unknowingly becoming drug dealers if we leave medications around and risk getting them into the wrong hands.

" Seventy percent of people age 12 and older who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from relatives and friends (Source: SAMHSA.gov)

What is being done to prevent prescription drug abuse?

Partners for Otoe County has organized a Safe Rx Committee to increase safe disposal of medications and decrease their misuse. Committee members include: Sgt. Dana Schebaum, Nebraska City Police Department; Bob Moser, U-Save Pharmacy; Kay Kiechel-White, St. Mary's Community Hospital; Kay Oestman, Southeast District Health Department; Traci Wieckhorst, Nebraska City Housing Authority; Derek Effle, Region V Systems; Kent Blum, Nebraska City Elks; Yolanda Peck, Interpreter; Gregg Goebbel, Otoe County Emergency Management; and Jennifer Conway, Conway Communication. Strategies being carried out by the group include:

Sponsoring medication take-back events in conjunction with the National Drug Enforcement Agency
Providing information to customers who purchase prescriptions about the safe storage and disposal of medications
Educating parents and senior citizens about the safe use, storage and disposal of medications.

What is the best way to dispose of medications?

Finding a community take-back program is the best way to dispose of your unneeded and expired medications. Even one dose of certain medications can be fatal if misused.

The next date to dispose of unneeded medications in Otoe County is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 29th from 10:00 to 2:00.

The second best way to dispose of mediations is the following: