Keep prescription meds out of the wrong hands

The next time you talk to your teenagers about the dangers of abusing drugs, you might want to include a warning about not using prescription medications to get high.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports one in five teens admits to abusing prescription pain medications, tranquilizers, sedatives, attention deficit and hyperactivity drugs and others pills.
The group says the No. 1 source is the family medicine cabinet. The group has created a campaign called "Not in My House" and has some tips to help keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands:

1) Monitor. Keep an inventory of prescription medication in the home. Count the pills in the bottle or package after each dose. Check the supply regularly for missing pills.

2) Secure. Prescription drugs should not be readily available to everyone in the house. Take out only the pills you will need for the day and lock up the remainder. Medications should be stored in a safe and secure place for those who need them.

3) Dispose. Leftover or expired prescription medications should be disposed of properly. Pills should be placed in a non-see-through container with something unpleasant mixed in such as old coffee grounds or cat litter. The container should be sealed and put in the trash.

Finally, experts recommend when disposing of medications never flush them down the toilet or sink where they could contaminate the water supply.

Judy Fortin's Health Minute segment runs daily on Headline News from 10am to 6pm ET weekdays.