Health Department urges safe storage and disposal ahead of Lock Your Meds Day and National Prescription Take Back Day

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - New Mexico had the sixth-highest drug overdose death rate in the nation in 2023, and nearly one quarter of those deaths involved prescription drugs such as opioids, sedatives and stimulants, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

To raise awareness, NMDOH is promoting Lock Your Meds Day on Oct. 23 and National Prescription Take Back Day on Oct. 25 — events that give residents practical ways to secure medications and safely discard unused prescriptions.

“Now is a great time to do an inventory of your prescriptions and take any that you no longer use or are expired to a drop-off location,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, the department’s chief medical officer.

The National Family Partnership notes that nearly 45% of people who misuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends, often from unlocked medicine cabinets. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Take Back Day offers free, anonymous drop-off sites nationwide. Many pharmacies also accept returns year-round.

Tips to keep medications secure:

• Lock up all medications. Store prescription and over-the-counter drugs in a locked cabinet or lockbox.
• Take regular inventory. Keep a current count of medicines, especially controlled substances.
• Educate and communicate. Talk with children and teens about risks. Never share prescriptions.
• Dispose responsibly. Don’t flush medicines or toss them in the trash. Use a drop-off site when possible. If none is available, mix meds with coffee grounds or kitty litter before disposal.