The misuse of prescription opioids, anti-depressants, and stimulants is a serious public health problem in South Carolina and in the United States.
Although most people take prescription medications responsibly, an estimated 54 million people (more than 20 percent of those aged 12 and older) have used such medications for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime.
The reasons for the high prevalence of prescription drug misuse vary by age, gender, and other factors, but likely include ease of access. The number of prescriptions for some of these medications has increased dramatically since the early 1990s.
Moreover, misinformation about the addictive properties of prescription opioids and the perception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illicit drugs are other possible contributors to the problem.
Although misuse of prescription drugs affects many Americans, certain populations such as youth, older adults, and women may be at particular risk. In addition, while more men than women currently misuse prescription drugs, the rates of misuse and overdose among women are increasing faster than among men.
#1 – Be aware of the medications that you have in your home.
#2 – Secure your medications in a manner to keep them away from young children who may accidentally ingest them as well as to keep them from being stolen by those seeking to abuse them.
#3 – Safely dispose of unused medications. DO NOT FLUSH prescription drugs down the toilet or drain. You can dispose of unused medications by using one of the 13 free prescription drug boxes in Greenwood, Edgefield, McCormick, and Abbeville counties. You can also dispose of drugs at “take back day” events (usually held in the spring and fall). You can also contact Cornerstone at 864-227-1001 for a free at-home drug disposal pouch that will dissolve and safely deactivate the medications.
* Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds
* Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag
* Throw the container in your household trash
* Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container.
This webpage was prepared by Cornerstone under award number 1H79TI083300-01 from SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”
