By Dr. Alfred Adam L’Altrelli, PharmD, MBA, CFMC
Director of Pharmacy
Memorial Medical Center

At some point in our lives, most of us have taken medicine to recover from an illness or injury. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly half of American adults have used at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days.

While medications can play a vital role in healing and managing health conditions, they can also pose serious risks when misused. That’s why it’s essential to build and maintain safe medication habits, for your health and for the well-being of our entire community.

At Memorial Medical Center, we proudly work together with the community to stay informed and provide access to pharmaceutical care that promotes responsible medication use. Supporting and promoting national Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one way that we help support creating a safer, healthier community.

Medication Safety Best Practices

Unused prescription medications find their way into the wrong hands far too often, creating dangerous and tragic situations. Findings from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report that nearly 40% of people who misused pain relievers in the past year obtained them from a friend or relative in some way (i.e., being given them, buying them or taking them without asking). Here are some medication safety tips you can use to prevent drug misuse, abuse and diversion in Southern New Mexico:

• Use medications responsibly. Take medications only as prescribed by a provider, and never share your prescription medications with anyone. Here are some other helpful tips:
  • Always keep a current list of your medications, including ones you only take on occasion. Share your list with close family members and keep a copy in your wallet.
    • Include the medication name, dose, how often you take it, the method for taking it (by mouth, injection, etc.) and the reason for taking it.
    • Don’t forget to include over-the-counter drugs, herbals, vitamins and dietary supplements.
    • Include any allergies, the names and phone numbers of your providers and your preferred pharmacy.
  • Reach out to your provider or pharmacist if you have questions about side effects or drug interactions with your medications.
• Ensure proper storage. Always lock the cap on medication bottles, and keep your medicines in a safe and secure location out of the reach of children and out of sight from friends and visitors. Each year, approximately 35,000 emergency department visits result from unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 5 years, and many people who misuse pain medications obtain them illegally from others.

Safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Never throw your medications in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Discarded medications can be easily retrieved and abused or illegally sold, and medicines flushed down the toilet can contaminate the community water supply. Safely dispose of your unused and expired medications to help prevent accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse, while promoting a healthy environment for your family and neighbors.

Find a Medication Drop Box or Take-Back Program Near You

Medication drop boxes are a convenient, free and anonymous way to safely dispose of your unused and expired medications. At Memorial Medical Center, we provide access to this program in our Emergency Department lobby, or you can visit https://safe.pharmacy to find additional year-round drop boxes near you. These locations make it easy to drop off any medications that are gathering dust in your medicine cabinet. By properly disposing of them, you are helping to make your home and community healthier.

If you would like more information on prescription drug use, visit www.DEA.gov, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.JustThinkTwice.com.

If you would like more information about safe medication use, visit http://consumermedsafety.org/.