U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess wants his constituents to properly dispose of any unused or expired medicine to keep loved ones safe.
Failure to keep track of prescription drugs can lead to the misuse of prescription drugs by family, friends and acquaintances, Get Smart About Drugs said. This puts loved ones at risk for drug misuse, drug addiction or a fatal drug overdose.
“#DentonCounty, if you or a loved one has unused or expired medications, click here to learn how to safely dispose of them,” Burgess said in a tweet.
Parents may keep prescription drugs out of the reach of young children, but once they become teens they know what drugs are in the home and where it is kept. Get Smart About Drugs advises that drugs be put in a place not easily accessed and locked up if possible.
“Keep track of the medicine you have by rethinking where and how you keep your medications in your home. Then safely dispose of any unused medications,” Denton County Public Health tweeted.
Prescription drugs that are especially harmful may have specific directions to flush them down the toilet or sink if a drug take back is not available. Only flush medicines on the Food and Drug Administration’s flush list. Most prescription and over-the-counter drugs not on the flush list can be thrown into household trash, but it should be removed from its original container and mixed with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter.
“Keep track of your legally prescribed controlled substances – that is, count your pills so you always know how much you should have and so you know when to take action if any go missing,” Get Smart About Drugs said.
The website GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov recommends that people not share and limit access to their medications.
The Food and Drug Administration sponsors an event called National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in which people can properly part with their old medications in a safe and legal manner.
If there are no take back options available near you, the FDA suggests you flush or dispose the medicines in the garbage.
