October, 2010

One in 5 high schoolers in Tompkins County* has used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.  Not all of us have misuse of pharmaceutical drugs on our radar.  Nor are parents or grandparents aware that their own medicine cabinets are potential sources of these drugs for abuse.  What can you do? 

• Educate yourself and others in your children’s lives about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs and then talk with your children.  (www.drugfree.org/notinmyhouse and www.stopmedicineabuse.org are good resources)
• Store your medications in a secure place.
• Keep track of your medication; watch for unexplained drug disappearance.
• Dispose of unused or outdated drugs.  Tompkins County’s next free collection day for unwanted household pharmaceuticals is October 16, 9:00-3:00 at TCAT in Ithaca.  (More info at www.recycletompkins.org)

For more suggestions visit: http://healthyyouth.org/

Thank you for all you do!

The Community Coalition for Healthy Youth

P.S. We’d appreciate your feedback…it only takes a minute (or less)!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCHY_Prescription_Drug_Survey

*Source:  2008 survey of over 4,900 Tompkins students in grades 6-12.