LOCKMED Hopes to Bring Awareness of Securing Medication During National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

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 Wednesday, September 28, 2016 - 21:30 Updated 6 years ago Edited from a Press Release
Pittsburgh, PA. - October is National Medicine Abuse Awareness month and LOCKMED Medical Product Company wants everyone to know the importance of safeguarding medications in the home.

 National Medicine Abuse Awareness month is an annual campaign observed every October, to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine abuse. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recognizes
October 22 as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs, as well as educating the public about the potential for abuse of medicine.
Prescription drug abuse is regarded as a national epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 52 million Americans have abused a prescription drug — and opioid painkillers top the list. In fact, according to a report by the CDC, West Virginia had the highest drug-overdose death rate in the nation in 2014. The state also has one of the highest prescription rates of opioids in the US, and places in the top 10 for the highest rate of prescriptions distributed for high-dose opioids. The statistics on opioid abuse are staggering. But what can be done? 
With 4 out of 5 heroin users starting out using prescription drugs recreationally, and young adults (age 18-25) having the highest rates of prescription drug abuse, prevention is key.
First time users will often get medications from family and friends, taken from an unlocked bathroom medicine cabinet, bedroom nightstand or kitchen shelf without detection. One of the easiest ways to safeguard medications in the home is to properly secure them. Not only will this prevent diversion but can also help avoid accidental overdoses. It’s a small step that can have a huge impact.   LOCKMED offers the following steps for a safer home:   1.      Don’t tell many people about your medication types 2.      Don’t give many people access to your medications 3.      Know how much medication you have 4.      Discard unused medications properly 5.      Educate kids about the dangers of medications 6.      Lock up your medications   LOCKMED strongly encourages everyone to always lock up medications in the home, and to remind caregivers and family to keep medications locked up and away from children.      About LOCKMED LOCKMED Medical Product Company, a Pittsburgh-based medical technology company, has been developing award winning products to safeguard medications since 2008. Their medication security products have been used and trusted by thousands of facilities and institutions nationwide. LOCKMED lock boxes are available in a variety of sizes and can be purchased directly from the company’s website or through over 100 LOCKMED dealers throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. To learn more about LOCKMED Medication Lock Boxes, visit www.lockmed.com, https://facebook/com/LockMed or call 888-458-2746. To schedule interview opportunities with the founder of LOCKMED, Dr. M. Bud Lateef, contact Tammy@lockmed.com.