Oklahoma’s Hidden Danger: Old Meds Threaten Children’s Lives | Image Source: www.newson6.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 18, 2025 – In the agitation of daily life, it is easy to see the bottle of antibiotics for medium use in the kitchen drawer or the blood pressure pills forgotten in a bathroom closet. But the new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have led to such surveillance with an acute and urgent approach: more than 36,000 children under 5 years of age are found each year in emergency rooms after accidentally taking medicines that are not intended for them. It’s not just a statistic, it’s a preventable crisis.
According to CDC data released this spring, these unwanted exposures are often caused by drugs that are not protected in common family spaces. Melody Abraham, Director of Pharmacy at Parkside Psychiatry Hospital, noted that children and pets are at high risk when drugs are not stored or disposed of properly. “What could be an adult dose can be toxic to a child,” explained Abraham, emphasizing the importance of safe monitoring and disposal practices in each home.
Why are children getting medication?
To understand how this problem persists, we must take into account daily domestic behaviour. Parents and caregivers often rely on child-proof caps, but these caps are not child-proof. In addition, comfort often affects caution. A father may leave vitamins in a counter or blood pressure pills in a bag, thinking they will remember moving them later. But young children are famous for their curiosity and speed. Like Stetson Potrykus, a resident pharmacy at Aspirus Health, said, “Nothing is faster than a little boy who holds something he shouldn’t.”
Even items we consider harmless, such as rubber vitamins or over-the-counter drugs, can pose a serious risk if they are consumed in large quantities or by a smaller body. The problem is complicated by medicines that look like candy or juice, creating a dangerous allusion to the eyes and hands of young people. And they are not just drugs: herbal supplements and remedies also involve risks when taken improperly, especially by children who cannot distinguish between safe and dangerous substances.
How should families store safe medicines?
Effective storage of medicines requires more than a high tablet. Experts like Abraham and Potrykus recommend using closed cupboards, preferably high and out of sight. After each use, medicines should be immediately stored and never left on desks, night tables or diaper bags. Safety also includes regular verification of maturity dates and ensuring that drugs are properly labelled to avoid accidental ingestion by others at home.
Here are more tips:
- Using original containers with child-resistant caps
- Teaching older children never to touch medicine without adult supervision
- Storing purses, backpacks, and coats—often hiding places for pills—out of children’s reach
Stealing drugs safely may be a nuisance, but when you consider the potential results – hospital visits, organ damage, or worse – is a small price to pay for mental peace.
What if a child takes medication?
In case of an emergency, the seconds count. If a child has swallowed medications that are not prescribed, the immediate passage should call the poison treatment hotline at 1-800-222-1222. This line is equipped 24/7 with professionals who can guide parents through what to do next. If the child has serious symptoms: difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness, irritability or loss of consciousness, emergency medical care is essential. Call 911 immediately or head to the nearest emergency room.
Abraham emphasizes this urgency: “Some drugs require urgent treatment to remove them from the system before causing lasting damage. Waiting for them is not an option. It is not only opioids or controlled substances that are dangerous; even a poorly placed or outdated antibiotic can cause significant damage.
How can you get rid of it?
Many people wrongly believe that getting out of outdated drugs or throwing them in the trash is an acceptable solution. But this method creates a new problem: pollution of water systems and the risk of aquatic life. According to Tulsa, wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter pharmaceutical chemicals, resulting in drug residues that contaminate rivers, lakes and even drinking water sources.
Instead, health experts and environmental regulators recommend using authorized landing sites or participating in the U.S. Drug Administration’s Biannual National Drug Delivery Day. This spring, the event falls on Saturday, April 26, 2025. In Oklahoma, several collection sites will be available in Tulsa and other cities, providing residents with a safe and environmentally sound way to eliminate unused drugs.
Beyond this unique day, the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Elimination Committee (OMSDC), in partnership with the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Department (DEQ) and the Product Management Institute (PSI), promotes access to safe disposal options throughout the year through its secure disposal campaign in the spring of 2025. Its website, oksafemeddisposal.org, has an interactive map that shows drop-down sites for drugs and sharp doctors.
What about the medical shavers? Why are they a concern?
While AED Resuming the day allows for the elimination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, it does not accept sharp medical items such as syringes, needles and lancettes. These items, if disposed of in household waste, pose a serious danger to health care workers and the public. Patrick Riley, DEQ, clearly explained the threat: “Snakes thrown into the trash can cross the bags and damage workers, or contaminate surfaces, creating risks of transmission of safety and disease.”
According to the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Disposal Committee, up to 60 million points are generated annually in the state. These may come from diabetic users, patients who administer hormonal treatments, or patients who inject. The new disposal initiative fills this gap, helping communities safely manage both categories of waste.
How do local organisations support Effort?
Pharmacy, clinics and tribal health systems are joining the campaign to increase awareness and participation. Justin Wilcox, a pharmacist from the Choctaw Nation, highlighted how the campaign improves local efforts: “It is essential for the public health of our reserve to be able to offer our patients several safe ways to sharpen them. The program improves existing programs so that patients have various ways to protect our community
To reach more people, the WHODC uses a combination of printed brochures, social media manuals and partnerships with local pharmacies to deliver the message. It focuses not only on elimination, but also on education: telling residents that what seems to be a small supervision, such as an open medical practice or a forgotten bottle of pill, can have consequences for life.
What can families do today to protect their children?
While countryside and desertion days provide essential infrastructure, real power lies in individual households. That’s what every family can do today:
- Audit your medicine cabinet. Check for expired or unused medications. Safely dispose of them at a drop-off site.
- Educate your children. Start a conversation about why medications are off-limits unless given by an adult.
- Practice safe storage. Invest in a lockable cabinet or container. Always secure it after each use.
- Share the knowledge. Encourage friends, neighbors, and family members to do the same.
It’s not about acting overly, it’s about being proactive. As Abraham said, even drugs that do not seem dangerous can be harmful if they are taken improperly. “Sometimes it’s not about abuse, it’s about simple access. If we limit access, we will significantly reduce the risk,” he said.
With efforts such as the Oklahoma 2025 Safe Elimination Campaign, the state is taking important steps towards a safer and healthier future. But it’s a shared responsibility, and it starts at home.
