Safe medication use starts with following directions exactly. That means taking the right dose at the right time and not skipping, doubling, or stopping a medication without guidance. Many prescriptions are designed to build up or taper down in your body, so changes can create side effects or reduce how well the medicine works. If the instructions feel confusing or don’t fit your daily routine, bring the label to your clinician or pharmacist and ask for a clear plan you can follow.

Sharing prescription medications is never safe. Even if a drug helped someone you know, it may be harmful to you because of your health conditions, allergies, or interactions with other medications. Using only medications prescribed to you also protects you from counterfeit pills, which can look real but contain unexpected and dangerous substances, including fentanyl.

Safe storage protects children, teens, pets, and visitors from accidental exposure and misuse. Keep medications in their original containers with the label intact so directions and warnings stay with the medication. Store all medications out of reach and out of sight. For controlled substances such as opioids, a locked cabinet or lockbox is the safest option. Consider keeping an up-to-date count so missing pills are noticed quickly. If you have household guests or caregivers, secure storage is especially important because many misused medications come from family and friends.

Heat, moisture, and light can also affect medication quality. Follow the storage directions on the label, and avoid leaving medicines in bathrooms, cars, or other areas where temperatures change quickly. When in doubt, a pharmacist can confirm the best storage approach for a specific medication.

Disposing of unused or expired medications reduces the risk of misuse and accidental ingestion. The safest option is a take-back program or a pharmacy drop box, which ensures medications are destroyed properly. Many communities host take-back events, and some pharmacies provide secure drop boxes year-round. If you cannot access a take-back option, follow FDA guidance for disposal. Only flush medications that are on the FDA flush list, because most should not go into the water system.

If you must dispose of medications in the trash, mix them with an undesirable substance (like coffee grounds or cat litter), place the mixture in a sealed container, and remove or obscure personal information on the original prescription label. This step helps protect your privacy while reducing the chance that someone will retrieve the medication.

Misuse can include taking a prescription in a way not intended by the prescriber, using someone else’s medication, or taking pills obtained outside a licensed pharmacy. These behaviors can lead to serious harm, including overdose. Counterfeit pills are a growing risk and may contain fentanyl or other unknown substances even when they look legitimate. The safest choice is to use only medications prescribed to you and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.

If you are ever unsure about a medication’s appearance, ask your pharmacist to verify it before taking it. If you suspect exposure to counterfeit or contaminated pills, seek emergency help immediately.

Your clinician and pharmacist are key partners in medication safety. Ask them to review your list, explain how each medication works, and clarify what to do if you miss a dose. It can help to keep a written list of medications and bring it to every appointment so your care team can check for interactions and duplicative therapies.

If side effects appear, report them promptly rather than stopping a medication on your own. Many side effects can be managed with adjustments or alternatives. A plan you understand and can follow is one of the most important safety tools you have.

Youth and teens often encounter misinformation about prescription drugs. Honest conversations can help explain why taking someone else’s medication is dangerous and how counterfeit pills can look real while containing fentanyl. Encourage questions, explain how medications can harm developing bodies, and reinforce that it is always safer to talk to a trusted adult or healthcare professional before taking any pill.

Families can also set clear household expectations about medication use, including rules about who can access medications and how they should be stored. Consistent boundaries and secure storage are protective for everyone in the home.