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Promoting Prevention with NC Lock Your Meds

Posted 04-06-2021

PORT Health is proud to partner with the NC Lock Your Meds campaign to educate families about the prevalence and dangers of prescription drug misuse. Lock Your Meds® is a national multi-media campaign designed to reduce prescription drug abuse by making adults aware that they are the “unwitting suppliers” of prescription medications being used in unintended ways, especially by young people. 

While many believe that prescription medications are safer than illegal drugs, when they are not used as directed these medications can be as dangerous as illegal drugs. Drug overdose is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in North Carolina with the majority of overdose deaths being medication-related, occurring when people misuse or abuse those medications. 53% of those misusing prescription drugs get them from their families and friends, often without the knowledge of the person the drug was initially prescribed to.

Take the appropriate steps to prevent prescription drug misuse:

  1. Properly secure and monitor your medications
  2. Safely and properly dispose of old, unused or expired medications
  3. Educate yourself and your family about the dangers of misusing or abusing prescription drugs

 

If you are concerned that someone you love is misusing prescription drugs, there are behavioral signs to be aware of:

  • Stealing, forging or selling prescriptions
  • Lying or being deceitful
  • Borrowing money or having extra cash
  • Unaccounted time away from home/missed school days
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Taking higher doses than prescribed
  • Excessive mood swings, hostility, abusive behavior and negative attitude
  • Engaging in reckless behavior
  • Increase or decrease in sleep
  • “Munchies” or sudden changes in appetite
  • Extreme changes in groups of friends or hangout locations
  • Poor decision-making
  • Forgetfulness or clumsiness
  • Appearing to be high, unusually energetic or revved up, or sedated
  • Losing interest in personal appearance, extracurricular activities or sports
  • Unusually poor performance in school or other activities
  • Continually “losing” prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written
  • Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor (“doctor shipping”)
  • Visiting pro-drug websites