Keeping alcohol or prescription medication in the home becomes especially challenging when there are children and teens in the home. Children may only mimic what they see their parents doing, while teens are more likely to try to experiment with controlled substances. The first line of defense in preventing these behaviors is to talk openly with your children about the dangers of substance abuse. Additionally, you should follow these steps in limiting access to these substances.
Keep Substances in Inaccessible Areas
You should think about keeping medications and alcohol in places that your children can’t easily reach. Rather than storing medication in the bathroom medicine cabinet, consider keeping it in a lockbox that you can keep somewhere private. Similarly, alcohol should be stored in your bedroom or another area that won’t be easily accessed by teens.
Keep Substances in Locked Storage
You’ll only need a small lockbox for storing medication bottles, but you must be diligent in making sure it is always locked. For liquor and other types of alcohol, you should invest in cabinets or coolers that can be locked. If they don’t come with a lock of their own, be sure you can attach a padlock. You must also be sure to keep the keys to your storage cabinets and lock boxes with you at all times.
Monitor Controlled Substances
Even when you take steps to limit access to drugs and alcohol in the home, you should still keep an eye on these substances. Check to make sure you’re not missing any pills. You should also keep an eye on the level of alcohol and liquid medications to ensure your kids haven’t tampered with them. Be wary of liquor that has been diluted with water since teens may do this to cover up their alcohol consumption.
When you no longer need or want to keep a certain medication or alcohol in the home, be sure to dispose of the substances safely. For medications, you may be able to find a drug take-back program at your local pharmacy or hospital. Otherwise, you should mix the substance with an inedible product, such as coffee grounds or cigarette butts. The sealed container can then be disposed of with the rest of your trash.