How aware are you of the quantities that are currently in your home?
Step 1: Monitor
Take note of how many pills are in each of your prescription bottles or pill packets and keep track of your refills;
If your teen has been prescribed a medicine, be sure you control the medicine, and monitor dosages and refills;
Make sure your friends and relatives - especially grandparents - are also aware of the risks. Encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine.
Step 1: Secure
Keep all medicines, both Rx and OTC, in a safe place, such as a locked cabinet your teen cannot access. A good tip wold be to safeguard these drugs the same way you would cash or expensive jewelry in your home;
Tell relatives, especially grandparents, to lock up their medicine or keep them in a safe place.
Step 1: Dispose
The ideal way is to participate in safe drug disposal program. Search online for Drug Disposal locations near you;
Less desirable option is to dispose at home by mix the medicine with an undesirable substance, such as unused coffee grounds or kitty litter and discard;
To prevent unathorized refills, remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles before you throw them away.