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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – How many prescriptions do you have in your home? Because they’re free and easy to find, they may be what your child uses to get high.
Prescription drugs such as sedatives, pain relievers, stimulants and allergy medications provide many benefits but when taken by anyone other than for whom the drugs were prescribed, they can be addictive and even deadly.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse Web site, more than 20 percent of high school seniors reported non-medical use of at least one prescription medication.
Robin Walsh, MA, LLP, a therapist at Henry Ford Health System’s Maplegrove Center, says there are six simple ways to help keep prescription drugs out of the hands of your children:
• Properly dispose of all prescription drugs from your home if they are no longer in use. Non-prescription medications with dextromethorphan, dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramine hydrochloride should also be removed.
• Lock up all prescription and non-prescription medications. Don’t let your guard down and leave them unlocked or out in the open.
• Educate yourselves about the latest trends in drug use — including inhalants, ‘pharming’ parties and non-prescription cough medicine — and the dangers involved. Call community youth coalitions or treatment centers for information, assistance or guidance. They often offer helpful lectures or workshops. Also, the NIDA Web site is a great source of accurate information. Visit www.nida.nih.gov.
• Talk to your kids. Explain the dangers of prescription drugs. Once you have information, share it with your kids to replace the misinformation they may have. You can debunk the myth that prescription drugs are a ‘safer’ high than illegal drugs.
• Get to know your kids! Keep the lines of communication open and listen to them. Look up info on the NIDA Web site for warning signs of drug use.
• Know your kids’ friends and their parents. Look for any changes in the behavior of your children’s friends. You may be safe-guarding your home and watching your children but are other parents doing the same?
“Keeping communication channels open is important because kids can feel safe talking to their parents about drugs if something does occur,” says Walsh. “They will be more open to asking questions of parents, especially if parents are willing to listen and have exhibited some knowledge on the topic.
“Remember, the best way to communicate to your child is through the example you set, meaning actions speak louder than words,” says Walsh.
Henry Ford Health System’s Maplegrove Center provides a full spectrum of substance abuse treatment and support services for people of all ages.
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