Safely Managing Your Teen’s Medications to Prevent Misuse

Medication Inventory Management 

Keeping track of your child’s medication is a vital component of medication inventory management. It’s helpful to put a system in place so that you can reference it if something seems “off.” Here are some practical steps to implement such a system: 

• Organize Medications: Have a specific place where you store all medications. This can be a container, drawer, cabinet, etc. Once you have a designated storage area, organize medications by category type (e.g., allergy meds, pain meds, mental health meds, and so on). Be sure all medication is clearly labeled and in its original containers. You can then group together all the medications that are capable of misuse.  
• Maintain an Inventory List: Keep a running list of all the prescription medications by writing down each one’s name, date filled, expiration date, dosage amount, and quantity. Every month, compare when you filled the medication, dosage per day, and how many pills are left. This will indicate if any medication is missing. You can use apps or a simple spreadsheet to track the inventory. 
• Plan for Refills: Some pharmacies allow for automatic refills on a regular basis. If not, you can set up reminders on your phone to refill in a timely manner. 

High-Risk Prescription Medications 

Some medications are a higher risk for misuse in young people. These medications need to be carefully guarded and dispensed. Even if you don’t think your child would ever purposely misuse medication, it’s best to take precautions. Additionally, some children might give or sell the medications to others. The medications that are typically misused include: 

• Stimulants, such as Adderall or Ritalin, which are used to treat ADHD 
• Sedatives, like Xanax and Ativan, which are used to treat anxiety or sleep disturbances
• Opioids, such as OxyContin (oxycodone),  which are used to relieve pain. 

Young people—and adults for that matter—may think there is no risk in prescription drugs because a doctor prescribed them. However, that is not the case. These medications can have strong effects on teens. If they are not taken exactly as written, they can be harmful or lead to addiction.

Setting Clear Boundaries With Your Teen 

Before your teen begins a potentially risky medication, sit down with them and set up clear boundaries. Education goes a long way in preventing teen addiction. Explain to them what misuse looks like and the potential consequences of misusing the medication. 

Some boundaries that you might implement include: 

• Have a trusted adult dispense the medication each day. 
• Keep children in the loop when checking the inventory.  If any medication is missing, discuss it with them immediately. 
• Have regular talks with them about the medication’s effects. 

Safe Disposal Methods 

Having medication around the house that is no longer needed or expired can create added risk for misuse. However, flushing medications can harm aquatic life, water, and septic systems. To help you safely dispose of medications, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has drug take-back events regularly. You can also check with your pharmacist to see if they offer local take-back initiatives. 

Recognizing Red Flags 

Even with the best system in place, your teen may still misuse prescription medication. As a parent, it’s helpful to recognize some of the red flags of misuse so you can prevent further misuse and/or treat addiction. Common red flags of teen drug misuse include: 

• Behavior changes 
• Personality shifts 
• Moodiness 
• Hygiene issues 
• Health problems 
• Sudden change in friends 
• Different eating habits or sleeping patterns 
• Trouble at school 
• Lack of interest in enjoyable activities