Safe Medication Storage
Protecting your family and household guests from accidental or intentional misuse begins with safe medication storage. Medications left sitting on a bathroom counter, a kitchen drawer filled with half-used medications from past injuries, or pain pills left in a purse or bedside table far too easily end up in the wrong hands.
Teenagers may take pills out of curiosity, friends or house guests may help themselves during a gathering, or a child may mistake a pill for candy. Using lockboxes, keyed cabinets, or combination-secured containers will help eliminate these opportunities that may lead to misuse, accidental poisoning or overdose. Likewise, tracking the number of pills remaining after each dose will also alert you if someone has accessed your medication without permission.
Do Not Flush Medications
Why Lockboxes and Proper Disposal Matter
You will reduce risk immediately by moving all substances (medication, alcohol, commercial tobacco products, vapes, CBD products, THC products) into a locked container and placing that container in a location that only authorized adults can reach. Adopting this safety measure will reduce who can access these substances and prevent accidental poisoning or overdose for young children, pets, and vulnerable adults. It also sends the message that you care about everyone living in or visiting your home.
Expired or unused medications should not remain in the home. Drop-off sites around Stearns County accept medications for safe disposal. Flushing medications down the toilet or sink contaminate our water resources and throwing them in the trash can cause environmental damage. They can also become available to someone who shouldn’t access them when placed out in the trash. Drop-off sites are located at local law enforcement offices as well as some pharmacies and retailers.