Abundant and easily accessible are two adjectives that can be used to describe the presence of medications in U.S. homes. According to the CDC, each year, approximately 50,000 children under the age of six are brought to emergency departments after unintentionally taking medicine when a caregiver was not watching.

The majority of these exposures (75%) occurred in children that are one to two years old.

While prescription and non-prescription drugs are generally safe when used as instructed, both can lead to toxic effects if too much is taken or if they are unintentionally ingested.

The colors and unique shapes of medications can be mistaken for candy or edible treats by children, which is why it’s so important to keep medications out of sight and out of reach at home.

It’s also equally as important to remove unused medications from your home. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there is significant misuse of prescription pain relievers, prescription stimulants and sedatives in America. The survey showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

To help you to safely store and dispose of medications, here is a list of frequently asked questions and their answers.

Should I store my medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet?

The bathroom medicine cabinet is NOT the ideal environment for medication storage.

Unless otherwise instructed, medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. The bathroom gets warm and humid from the sink, shower and bathtub. Your medicines can become less potent, or they may go bad before the expiration date when exposed to these conditions.

I keep my medications on the kitchen counter so that I can remember to take them every day. How can I teach my children or grandchildren not to touch them?

Medications on the kitchen are too easy for curious children and grandchildren to access.  Even though the bottles may have tamper resistant caps, you should move your medications to a location that is more difficult for others to access. Every medicine should be stored up and away — along with out of reach and sight.

I saw a commercial on TV about turning in my old medications free of charge to be disposed of. Is that true?

Every year, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) hosts The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This event provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths by anonymously disposing of their unwanted, unused or expired prescription medications.

If you miss the annual give back event, contact your local community pharmacy as many of them accept medications for disposal year-round.

The maintenance medications I take for my blood pressure and cholesterol were changed at my recent doctor’s appointment. Can I throw the medications that I no longer take in the trash?

To throw medications that are NOT controlled substances (pain medications and other medications with high abuse potential) in the trash follow these steps:

• Remove the medicine from its original container and mix it with an undesirable substance like dirt, used coffee grounds or cat litter
• Put the mixture in a sealed plastic bag
• Place the sealed plastic bag in the trash
• Scratch out your personal information on the prescription label and throw the empty bottle in the trash

I had a dental procedure and was given a prescription for a pain medication. I did not take all of the tablets and I want to get them out of my house. How should I dispose of them?

If a drug take-back program is not available, check the FDA’s “flush list” that identifies the medications that should be flushed down the toilet. The flush list includes pain medications and other medications with high abuse potential.

If your medication is on the flush list, you can flush it down the toilet. Be sure to scratch out your personal information on the prescription label and throw the empty bottle in the trash.

If your medication NOT is on the flush list, dispose of it by following the process for throwing medications in the trash.