The holidays can be one of the most joyous times of the year. Now that many of us are fully vaccinated, we will be able to reunite this season making it even more special after years apart. However, it is important to remember that if we are hosting a family gathering that we properly secure and store all of the substances in our homes.
Taking medications originally prescribed to a family member or friend is one of the leading ways youth access prescription drugs like opiates in the country. In our own community, the 2021 WRVT Core Measure Survey found that 36% of Leland & Gray students who reported using Cannabis stated they had obtained it from a family member or close friend. Finally, the a significant amount of youth report that their first time drinking alcohol was from their home liquor closets. This data suggest that safe home storage can be an effective line of defense for youth substance use. Luckily, there are simple steps that we can all take to prepare our homes for safe holiday gatherings.
How to Safely Store Alcohol Products:
- Store bottles away in a locked liquor cabinet, pantry, or closet
- Mark liquor bottles with a permanent marker to track how full they are
- If you store your alcohol in a secondary fridge or freezer place a lock on it
Less than 7% of parents report storing alcohol in the home with any kind of locking mechanism. However, it has never been easier to safely store your alcohol. Check out these affordable products like fridge locks, cabinet locks, bottle locks, and lockboxes that will help you secure the alcohol in your home.
How to Safely Store Cannabis:
- Keep your cannabis in a locked safe, drawer, or medicine cabinet
- Ensure your locked location is out of reach of small children by keeping it high-up – 4 feet or higher
- Keep track of your cannabis so you can track if any is missing
For more information about storing Cannabis in the home check out our more in-depth blog about creating a safe storage plan!
How to Safely Store Prescription Drugs:
- Keep medications in a secured medicine cabinet, safe, or childproof pill counter
- Keep count and track of your medications
- Safely dispose of unwanted medications
Did you know that our regional prevention partnership, the Windham County Prevention Partnership (WCPP), has an entire website dedicated to storing information about how to prevent prescription drug misuse? Check it out here!
By following a combination of these steps you can prepare your home for a safe and happy holiday season. For more information about the WCPP Talk, Track, and Secure campaign, check out our article in the Reformer that does a deep-dive into the topic.