Per the notice below, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is highlighting National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.

New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Should be Stored in a Safe Place Out of the Reach of Children

Drug Take Back Programs are Available for Appropriate Disposal of Unused or Expired Prescription Medication

The New York State Department of Health today recognizes October as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, which raises public awareness of the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drug misuse.

"Non-medical use or inappropriate use of any medication, whether it's prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter, can be dangerous and can lead to addiction or cause future health issues," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.  "I urge everyone to take measures to properly store medications and properly dispose of any unused or expired medications."

During National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, organizations are raising awareness about the scope of medicine abuse and steps individuals can take to prevent the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medication.  While most people take medication responsibly, prescription drugs are the second most misused category of drugs.  Some of the most commonly misused prescription drugs include painkillers (such as opioids, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and meperidine); depressants, which are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders; and stimulants, often prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  According to National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates in 2021, 14.3 million people in the United States aged 12 and older reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in the past 12 months, 3.7 million people reported misusing prescription stimulants, 4.9 million people reported misusing prescription tranquilizers or sedatives, 3.9 million people reported misusing benzodiazepines, and 8.7 million people reported misusing prescription pain relievers.  Over-the-counter medications can also be used inappropriately.  Some over-the-counter products are used to treat allergies and colds but can cause serious harm if abused in large doses for non-medical purposes, especially among teenagers.

There are ways to help prevent accidental or deliberate medicine misuse, including the following:

• Dispose of unused medicine through drug take back programs.
• Store medication in a safe place and keep them out of the reach of children.
• Parents should stay educated about the medications that children are misusing.
• Always take medications as prescribed.  For over-the-counter medicines, always follow the indications of the manufacturer.

Information about drug take back programs and locations in New York State can be found here.  Parents and guardians can find more information what to look out for and how to prevent the misuse of medications here.