According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the United States is experiencing an epidemic with drug overdose. Since the year 1980, deaths from overdose have increased more than five times. Prescription drugs, in particular, have been commonly linked to many of the overdoses reported throughout the country. It may seem hard to believe but it is possible to prevent a drug problem if you know what to look for.
Tips For Drug Abuse Prevention
Take Only Safe Doses Of Your Medicines
If you have been prescribed medication, your doctor will be providing you with information regarding the correct and safe amounts in addition to timing for taking that medication. Stick to the directions. This is a simple and common sense approach to prescription medication and while it won’t be 100% effective for everyone, it does reduce the risk of developing a drug dependency problem. If you feel you need a different dosage than what was prescribed, speak with your doctor first before taking any more than what you were originally given.
Don’t Store Prescription Drugs In Your House
Statistics show that an astounding 10% of seniors in highschool abused prescription drugs because they have easy access to them in their homes. When you have been prescribed a regulated drug, keep tabs on the amount you have and check it regularly to ensure that no pills are missing. If you can, store your prescriptions in a safe place that your child cannot find or get into. A locked case, drawer, or safe may work.
If you end up not using your entire prescription, do not keep the leftover pills. Get rid of them to be sure that they won’t be improperly used. Some programs will take unused pills for proper disposal and most states offer pill take-back programs. If you don’t want to go this route, you can do it yourself. Grind up your pills into a fine powder and mix them with dirt or baking soda, coffee, grounds, anything that can disperse the powder and then put them in a plastic bag for disposal.
Only Take Prescriptions When Necessary
If you weren’t prescribed a medication, you likely do not need to take any. So even if it seems innocent to take an Adderall to study for a test or oxycodone when you have a migraine, stick to safe options instead. Coffee works to power through the night or Advil to numb the pain.
Alternatives
You aren’t forced to take anything you don’t want. There are alternative therapies available that you can try which don’t require the use of drugs. Message, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture, hypnosis, even simple exercise may work well for your situation and allow you to forgo ingesting any drugs at all. There are a plethora of holistic practices that are excellent resources to see what other options may be available to you.
Finding Prescription Drug Help
If you believe that you have a problem with prescription drugs or if you suspect a loved one is struggling with abuse, an established program to address addiction and provide detox can help. The intensive medical detox and in-patient addiction treatment center alternative at Discovery Place offers programs that will help you with your addiction. Our qualified staff can help you through detox in the most smooth and safe way with the least stress.
Discovery Place’s Tennessee addiction treatment center alternative center is a path towards your personal wellness and healing. Our team of caring professionals is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call our Tennessee alternative detox treatment center today at 1-800-725-0922.
