By Finger Lakes Addiction Resource Center Coordinator for DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – Rochester Area David Young, A.S.

October is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, a campaign which empowers parents, educators, and advocates to raise awareness about the dangers of medicine misuse. The accidental ingestion of prescription and over-the-counter medications by children is a serious concern that leads to thousands of emergency room visits and calls to poison control centers each year in the United States. Accidental poisoning is incredibly scary for parents and caregivers. By understanding the challenges and working together to promote safe medication practices, we can create a safer environment for our children and give families peace of mind.

Understanding the Impact

Each year, an estimated 35,000 children under the age of five visit emergency departments due to accidental medication overdoses, making it one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths among children. This represents about 68.9 percent of all emergency visits for unintentional poisoning in this age group.

Why Accidental Ingestions Occur
While most cases involve unsupervised children discovering medications themselves, we understand that about five percent can stem from genuine mistakes made by caregivers, such as incorrect dosing. These situations can cause a lot of stress for families who want what’s best for their loved ones.

A significant number of accidental ingestions (up to 20 percent) involve children accessing unsecured medications from their grandparents’ homes, highlighting the need for all of us in multigenerational households to work together to keep medications safely locked away.

If you have unused medications, it is important to safely dispose of them to avoid them getting into the hands of children or others for whom they were not intended. Consider using a Deterra Pouch which immediately deactivates the medication, allowing it to then safely be disposed of in the garbage. Additionally, the DEA National RX Take Back Day is Saturday, October 25th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m

Additionally, we must be aware of family members who may be struggling with addiction. If you have unused medications, it is important to safely dispose of them to avoid them getting into the hands of children or others for whom they were not intended. Consider using a Deterra Pouch which immediately deactivates the medication, allowing it to then safely be disposed of in the garbage.

DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – Rochester Area  (NCADD-RA) is dedicated to helping families understand the importance of keeping medications safe and out of reach of little ones and vulnerable populations. Your family’s safety matters deeply to us. For more information or help obtaining Medication Lock Boxes, Lock Bags, and Deterra Pouches, contact David Young at [email protected].