Lock it Up: Medicine Safety in Your Home

Video Description:

Every year thousands of children are hospitalized and some die after taking medicine not meant for them. Teens share stolen prescription drugs at “pharm parties” and toddlers are tempted by colorful pills that look like candy. In this Consumer Update video, FDA pharmacist Connie Jung explains how you can prevent harm by locking your medicine up. Learn more about medicine safety in your home. 

Video Transcript:

CONNIE JUNG: “Every year thousands of children are hospitalized - and some die - after taking medicine not meant for them.

Hi, I’m Connie Jung, a pharmacist at FDA.

Accidents happen: Colorful pills and sweet-smelling liquids can seem like candy to children, and improperly discarded medicated patches have sickened - and even killed - curious toddlers.

But sometimes it’s abuse, especially when it comes to teens.

Have you ever heard of pharm parties?

That’s “pharm” as in “pharmaceuticals” and it’s just one way kids share pills they’ve taken from others - often right out of the medicine cabinet.

You can help protect kids from drug-related harm by locking your medicines up.

You may think a toddler can’t reach your medicine; or that your teen would never pop pills. But you could be wrong.

So don’t chance it … Lock It Up!

For more about how to protect kids, go to fda.gov/lockitup