In 2015, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that “6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs” and that “a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”
Think About Others
Opioids are a potential danger even for the people they are prescribed to. They cause a serious risk of building a dependency and this concern needs to be taken seriously. But they are also a danger for family and friends of family, particularly kids and teenagers. Teens are notorious for rifling through their parents’ things for things like alcohol or magazines which they cannot legally purchase. Prescription medication presents a tempting target either for personal use, or for giving to friends.
Illusion of Safety
Because prescription medication is regulated by the FDA, there are some ways that it is safer than drugs purchased off the street that could contain literally anything. But safer does not mean completely safe. Many people often think that because a drug comes from a pharmacy, it is a substance that is okay to take recreationally and that is just not the case. Prescription medication should only be taken under the advice and supervision of a qualified medical professional who is familiar with your personal and family history. Opioids in particular are strongly addictive and frequently when dependency sets in, stronger alternatives are sought.
Stay Safe
If you have prescription medication, lock it up. Pay close attention to how many you have, and if you suspect pills are missing address that issue immediately. You should also only use opioids for as short a time as possible and speak with your doctor about alternative forms of medicine which are less likely to be addictive. If you worry that you or a family member is becoming addicted to opioids, talk to your doctor at once. There are many detox programs in Florida that can help you. For more information call us at (833) 596-3502.