Many of us have needed pain killers for something—surgery, hurting our back when we lifted something heavy, an accident or fall. However, it’s really common for people to get addicted to prescription medications and keep taking them long after the actual need has passed and the prescription has run out.
 

Here are some intersting facts on improper medication use:

• Overdoses on prescription painkillers killed nearly 15,000 people in the US in 2024.
• In 2024, 6.1 million (2.4 percent of population) people age 12 and older misused or abused some type of prescription medication.
• Most of the prescription medications that people abuse are obtained from friends and relatives
• Misusing prescription medications is as dangerous, maybe even more dangerous, than taking illegal drugs
   

For more information about drug abuse and to learn more about how to store medications click here and here.
 

People using prescription medications without a medical reason to do so has increased in the past decade. It is now more common than all illegal drugs use except marijuana in the United States. Misuse of prescription drugs can produce serious health effects including addiction .One of the most misused parts of prescription medication has been sharing and selling opioids and stimulants.

Ways to make sure your prescriptions drugs aren’t misused:

• Keep track of your medications and keep those that are addictive or dangerous locked in a safe place
• Never share your medications with anyone!
• Educate yourself about dangerous prescription drugs and then teach your children what you learn
• Always get rid of your dangerous medications in the correct way. For instance, some medications should never be tossed in the trash. You can take them to police stations or hospitals if you stop using them before all the medicine are gone. For proper disposing of medication visit here.