Medicine should help, not harm.
Medications can be deadly in the hands of a toddler, child or teenager. It’s important to always keep medication in a locked cabinet your child or teen cannot access and to only dispose of expired and unused prescriptions at a medicine take-back location.
Know the facts
- 3 in 5 teens say prescription drugs are easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet.*
- Every 10 minutes a child visits the emergency room for medication poisoning.**
- Up to 70% of opioids prescribed after surgery go unused.***
Safe disposal is easy and convenient
You can prevent drug poisoning, misuse and overdose in our community by bringing expired and unused medications to drop-off locations across Broome County—no questions asked.
Never flush or throw out medications. Drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved by others, and flushing drugs down the toilet can contaminate the water supply.
Communication is key
Talk early and often with your child about the dangers of taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s guidance. Communicate that all prescription medications have risks in addition to benefits, and the risks increase when prescriptions are misused.
The open, non-judgmental conversations you have with your child about drug abuse now will help them stay safe and healthy as they grow up. Need help breaking the ice? Check out our handy guide.
Safely Dispose of Syringes, Needles, and Sharps
Never dispose of syringes in the trash or recycling! Loose needles can injure others and spread disease. The safest and easiest way to dispose of used needles and other sharps? Bring them to our Drug Take Back Day or visit one of the sharps drop-off locations around the area.
Accepted sharps include: needles, syringes, lancets, auto injectors, and infusion sets.