Are you and your family at risk? 
  • ​Prescription drug abuse by women is rapidly rising. About 18 women die each day from prescription painkiller overdoses. CDC
  • Newborns whose mothers abused prescription drugs can suffer drug withdrawal problems (neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS). CDC
  • Children visit emergency departments twice as often for medication poisoning than for poisonings from household products. Pediatrics
  • As many as 1 in 4 adults who receive long-term opioid prescriptions for non-cancer pain struggle with lifelong addiction. CDC
  • Prescription medications are now the most commonly abused drugs among youth 12-13 years old. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
  • Teens’ ease of access to prescription medicines in the home is a key factor in drug misuse and abuse.
  • Soldiers and veterans surviving serious injuries are at increased risk for abuse of prescription painkillers. JAMA
  • Overuse of prescription painkillers for occupational injuries is becoming an epidemic in workers’ compensation systems. ACOEM

Know the facts. 
​Here are some things you can do. 

  • Painkillers are the most commonly abused prescription drug. If you are taking pain medication, develop a pain management plan with your doctor to make sure you're receiving the right amount of pain medication.
  • Always store prescription drugs securely, not easily accessed by others. Keep track of quantities, and keep the drugs in a locked medicine cabinet if possible.
  • Properly dispose of medications once treatment is completed. Check the label or patient information guide for disposal instructions. Your pharmacist can also tell you about safe drug drop-off locations to dispose of leftover medications, or you can search the nearest one here. If you are too far from a site, simply request a FREE pouch. 

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