The Prescription for Prevention: What you can do to prevent Rx abuse:

Store medicines safely and securely.

• Monitor quantities in each container.
• Control access to all medications including over-the-counter medicines.
• Apply this strategy to medications for adults and children in the home.

Model and teach medicine safety to your children.

• Don’t share prescriptions with others.
• Follow the doctor’s dosing instructions.

Ask friends and family to safeguard medications.

• Talk to friends and relatives, particularly grandparents.
• Encourage them to keep medicines secure and to monitor them.
• If you don’t know the parents of your child’s friends, get to know them and share your values and rules concerning drugs.

Dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medications.

• Do NOT flush medications unless directions say otherwise.
• If you must throw them away in the garbage, mix them with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds or kitty litter to keep teens and others from taking them.
• The safest and most secure solution is to bring your expired and unwanted medications to the free Lewiston/Auburn Medicine Disposal Day.  Click here for details.