#>LiVeWell Senior's Health A NEWSLETTER WITH IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION FOR SENIORS December 2014 Unused Medicines- Dangers and Safe Disposal Medicines are important to treat many health conditions and diseases. They relieve suffering for us and those we love, but when they are no longer needed it is important to dispose of them correctly to avoid harm to others. Unused medication can be dangerous, especially to children and pets. Every year thousands of children are hospitalized and some even die, after taking medications not meant for them. Toddlers are tempted by colorful pills that look like candy. Unused pain medication can even be a target for theft. Some teens participate in "pharm parties" with drugs stolen from the family medicine cabinet. It is frightening that teens don't realize how dangerous these drugs are especially when abused or mixed with other drugs and alcohol. Teens who abuse drugs run the risk of addiction, stroke, seizures, comas, and even death. All medicines should be kept out of the reach and sight of children and teens. Put medicines and vitamins away every time you use then. Never leave them by the bedside or kitchen table. Hear the click when replacing the lid and make sure the lid is on securely. Many children are able to open pill bottles that have child safety locks; it is a good idea to lock all medications in a medicine cupboard or cabinet. The theft of pain medications is a growing problem. Avoid telling people about pain medications you are using and keep track of how many pills you have taken and how many are left. Don't allow people into areas where you keep your meds. When you no longer need the medication dispose of it correctly. The best option for unwanted, expired, or unused drugs is to participate in a medicine take back program. Check with your local police department to see if they have a drug collection program. Check for a current list of collection sites at www.medicationdisposal.ut.ah.gov. If there is not a medicine take-back program in your area you can follow these direction to dispose most of medications in the household trash. • Medicine should not be poured down the sink, flushed down the toilet, or thrown directly into the trash in their original packaging. • Pour medicine from the bottle into a sealable bag. Remove or mark out any personal information on the empty bottle to make them unreadable then throw them away. • Mix something unappetizing, such as coffee grinds, kitty litter, or dirt into the bag with the pills, seal, then throw it into the trash. This will help keep children or pets from eating the mixture. • There are a small number of medications that may be especially harmful, and in some cases, fatal with just one dose, if used by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed. To prevent accidental ingestion certain medicines have disposal instructions indicating they should be fhitttd down the sink or toilet as soon as they are no longer needed. Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital Source: www.intermountainhealthcare.org, http://www.fda.gov JjL&yjU^?