How to Prevent a Prescription Drug Overdose
Prescription drugs like OxyContin have become an epidemic to the point that we are trying to ring the alarm as much as possible to make people aware of how often people are overdosing and dying as a result.
A recent government report found that emergency room visits due to the overdose of prescription drugs such as oxycodone and methadone equaled visits due to cocaine and heroin overdoses in the United States. 
A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that visits to emergency rooms due to prescription drug overdoses increased from 144,600 visits in 2004 to 305,900 in 2008.
These numbers stress the fact that, just because certain drugs are prescribed, it doesn’t make them any safer when used improperly. If you are taking prescription drugs, here are some things you can do to prevent the risk of an overdose:
• Take medication only as prescribed. Before you were given a prescription, your doctor carefully assessed just how much of the drug you would need in order for it to be effective. That means you should only take the drug in the amount prescribed and when directed. Taking any more of the drug will not increase its effectiveness, and will only increase the chance of you overdosing.
• Don’t take drugs prescribed to others. Even if you have been prescribed the same drug as someone else, your dosage may be different. Because of that, it is never a good idea to use a prescription given to a friend, spouse or family member. Only use drugs that have been prescribed to you.
• Be aware of drug interactions. Even if you feel embarrassed, let your doctor know if you are taking any other drugs before you are given a prescription. Many medications can be dangerous if combined, and have devastating results. Your physician or a pharmacist will know which medications have negative interactions and either prescribe you a different drug or advise you on which drug to stop taking.
• Read the label. You probably went over how to take the medication with your doctor, but it’s still a good idea to read the label and accompanying literature for any drug you take. There may be something that your doctor didn’t have a chance to go over or something specific to you that they didn’t realize.
• Keep your prescription medication in a safe place. Any time you have a prescription medication in your home, it’s a good idea to keep it in a safe place. This is especially true if you have kids or someone recovering from a drug addiction living with you. Easy access to prescription medication may result in experimentation or relapse by others. If possible, lock your prescription medication in a cabinet and dispose of them when they are no longer needed.
Our Treatment Center has a great history of helping men overcome addiction to prescription drugs like the ones mentioned in the article. Please Call us for more information if you or someone you care about is in danger of hurting themselves due to a prescription drug addiction.
