A Guide for Navigating Your Prescription

For many, prescription drugs are an important part of taking care of themselves, their bodies and their minds.

Rx drugs such as stimulants, opioids, and sedatives are being used without a physician’s prescription by college students which results in a rising epidemic. Rx drug misuse is very prevalent in college students’ social networks, which suggests that prevention specialists need to provide younger adults with information regarding the major consequences of prescription drug misuse for themselves and their friends.

Below is a guide for how to: read your prescription bottle, use your prescription drugs, store your prescription drugs, and dispose of extra or expired prescription drugs.

Reading Your Prescription Drug Bottle

  • Drug name
  • Strength
  • Dosage
  • Directions of Use
  • Quantity Prescribed
  • Number of Authorized Refills

Using Your Prescription Drug

  • Use medications exactly as prescribed
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember
  • Never double up on a dose
  • Do not stop taking your medicine without consulting with your doctor
  • Only use the medicine that is prescribed to you
  • Never share medications
  • Never take someone else's medications

Storing Prescription Drugs:

  • Always lock up medications
  • Keep medications away from children and pets
  • Medications should remain in the bottle that they came with
  • Instantly dispose of expired or unused medication
  • Keep track of how many pills are in medication bottles

Disposing of Extra or Expired Prescription Drugs

Steps:

  • Remove personal identifying information
  • Keep original container or use a sealed plastic bag
  • Medications should remain in the bottle that they came with
  • Safely deposit in the kiosk. You can drop it off in Student Health Services at the safe disposal box
    • Temporary Hours of Operation:

      • Open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
      • Closed Wednesday

Safe Disposal Boxes:

  • SHS disposal box is the closest one since it is on campus
  • Click on this link and enter your Zipcode to find the closest safe disposal boxes to you