In order to reduce the supply of surplus prescription and over-the-counter medication which could potentially harm children, teens and adults, the Pima County Sheriff’s Ajo Substation at 1249 Ajo Well Road has established a permanent drop-off bin for unused prescription drugs and over the counter medications. The bin is accessible Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Dispose-A-Med Events

These events WILL accept the following items:

• Pills
• Capsules
• Caplets
• Gel Caps
• Medicated Patches
• Powders

The following items will not be accepted:

• Metal or glass inhalation aerosol bottles
• Syringes
• Epi-pens
• Creams
• Liquids
• Diabetic test strips

After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances by Americans age 14 and older.

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs

Some drugs cause a condition called drug-induced Psychosis. Psychosis is a disorder that causes one to lose contact with reality.

https://www.sane.org/mental-health-and-illness/facts-and-guides/drugs-and-mental-illness

Smoke is harmful to lung health. Whether from burning wood, tobacco or marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials. Smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke.

Additionally, marijuana is typically smoked differently than tobacco. Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar.

http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/marijuana-and-lung-health.html

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2015, more than 1 million youths in the United States between the ages of 12 and 17 are addicted to drugs.

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-facts-week/how-many-young-people-are-addicted-drugs

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs

https://www.samhsa.gov/atod

It is not an easy thing to do, but communicating empathy for where they are is an important first step. The following is from a Recovery 101 Training about how to build empathy and talk to someone you are concerned about to help in their recovery.

Important things to keep in mind:

• Build understanding. Trust take time, patience and encouragement
• Recognize the individual’s responses and notice triggers
• “What happened?” instead of “Why did that happen?”
• Build empathy, not a solution

Questions are powerful

Ask questions to meet them where they are.

• What does it mean to them to be in recovery?
• What do they do to support their recovery, and who else supports them?
• What makes it difficult to be in recovery?
• What do they wish people would understand about addiction and recovery?
• What has been made possible as the result of being in recovery?