By 
Dodi Haug
By Dodi Haug
Human Service Agency
Spring weather is just around the corner. That extra sunshine and warmth is motivation to take a deep dive clean into your home. One of the places often overlooked when cleaning is your medicine cabinet. Did you know by cleaning out your medicine cabinet you are working in the field of substance use prevention?
If you dispose of unneeded and/or unused medication, you are helping to prevent drug misuse before it starts. To leave expired, unused, or unwanted medications unattended in your home, poses a risk if not disposed of properly. These medications can end up in the wrong hands which can lead to poisoning, misuse, or intentional or unintentional overdose.
If you want to keep your household safe, you need to be informed and prepared. You can start by making sure that your medications that are being used are stored out-of-reach, or in a locked medicine box. If you are interested in a free medicine lock box, reach out to us.
The next thing to keep your household safe is to get rid of the expired, unused or unwanted medications. You can do this by dropping them off at any of the locations listed on the Let’s Be Clear website https://letsbeclearsd.com/prevention/safe-disposal. The locations listed on this site for Watertown include: Codington County Sheriff (14 First Ave. SE); Downtown Drug (8 Second St. NE Suite 201B); HyVee Pharmacy (1320 Ninth Ave. SE); Lewis Family Drug (911 11th St. SE, Suite 100); Prairie Lakes Campus Pharmacy (401 Ninth Ave. NW); and Watertown Police Department (128 N Maple St.).
Another option for disposal would be contact the Human Service Agency for a Dispose Rx packet. A Dispose Rx packet is added to the medication bottle with some warm water. You then shake the bottle and it deactivates the drug. You are then able to peel off the label and safely dispose it in your garbage. If you are unable to get to a medication drop off site, and you are unable to obtain a Dispose Rx packet, you should follow the FDA’s guidelines for safe disposal at home. This would involve mixing the medications with an unappealing substance like dirt, cat litter or used coffee grounds, placing the mixture in a sealed plastic bag and then throwing it in the trash.
Now that I am done helping you clean out your medicine cabinet, there are other things you can do to help with substance use prevention with the youth in your life.
Preventing substance misuse starts with open communication and education. This communication and education should start early and occur often. It is not a one-and-done conversation. There are many resources that can help with these conversations. Drugfree.org is one site offers tips on preventing substance use and on how to talk to your youth about substance abuse challenges. Another good site would be kidshealth.org. This site even breaks it down into age group categories.
Another tip would be to help youth develop refusal skills. Practice role-playing with them to help them say “no” in situations where they are offered substances. Model positive coping skills by showing healthy ways to handle stress such as exercise, hobbies or talking to someone you trust. Reduce risk factors by tending to mental health challenges; or making sure that there is adult supervision around different environments where youth may hang out.
Build a support network with positive role models and supportive friends for both you and the youth in your life.
For more information, contact the NE Prevention Resource Center at the Human Service Agency at 605-884-3516 or visit www.humanserviceagency.org/NEPrevention. To stay informed, follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/NEPRC.HSA.
