Category: Substance Use

Why are we concerned? 

Kids and pets:

• Are being seen more frequently during the last few years in our region for emergency care after consuming cannabis products. 
• Are at greater risk for getting very ill due to their smaller size.
• Are more likely to eat an entire chocolate bar or other cannabis product with multiple doses in one package.
• Find edibles especially tempting because edibles often look like candy or baked treats.

What are we doing to address this?

We wanted parents and pet owners to have access to friendly, easy-to-read, nonjudgmental educational materials. So, with input from local medical professionals, parents who use cannabis, and people who work with youth, we created a colorful brochure and poster. These materials provide information about safe storage, talking with youth, and resources in our region.

We brought the materials to Franklin County cannabis businesses, veterinary offices, school nurses, and people who work in local towns. The response was extremely positive, and both businesses and veterinary offices are displaying the materials, as well as the Community Health Center of Franklin County. Other businesses, healthcare offices and community organizations are welcome to request brochures or posters by emailing CTC staff member Ilana Gerjuoy. 

What you can do

• Check out safe storage tips for parents and pet owners in the online version of the outreach materials, including a poster you can view or download.
• Contact Ilana for copies of the brochure or poster for your organization, school, office, or to share with friends and family. 
• Get a lockbox, lockable filing cabinet, or other safe storage container.
  • These local businesses have safe storage options, or you may be able to get a free lock box through your local health department. Contact your local public health nurse to request one. 
• Learn about the developing brain and why cannabis, alcohol, nicotine and other drugs are riskier for young people. And learn how to help young people engage in healthy risk taking instead!
• Get tips for having positive, useful conversations with youth about alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs.
• Drop off unwanted medications at participating locations during the next National Drug Take Back Day (each April and October), or use year-round, local drop off locations any time. 

Safe storage is important for lots of substances.

It’s not just about cannabis. Having a place for safe storage of opioids and other prescription meds, alcohol, cleaning products, and over-the-counter medications can make a big difference to reduce risk for loved ones.

Once you have designated storage and get in the habit of using it, it’s easy to store multiple things in the same location or come up with a few places, depending on size and use. (E.g. cleaning products go on a high shelf near the bathroom, and edibles go with meds in a lockable filing cabinet.)

Educational materials about safe storage were created and distributed through a collaboration in 2023 and 2024 by the Greenfield 4SC Coalition, Communities That Care Coalition, and the FRCOG’s Cooperative Public Health Service, with thanks to the Health Departments in the City of Greenfield and Town of Montague.

Safely storing cannabis, edibles, and medications in your home protects children, youth, and pets.

During the last few years, the number of young people and pets in need of emergency care after ingesting cannabis products has increased dramatically. Access to opioids and other prescription meds continues to be a risk for young people. Thank you for checking out this page!

Cannabis products, edibles, and medications can be locked up in a variety of containers. You may already have something in your home that you can use! Lockable filing cabinets and safes can be used for products that don’t need to be refrigerated. Smaller medication lock boxes are available that may fit in smaller spaces, including the fridge.

Here are few places in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region that told us they carry medication lock boxes, small safes, or other lockable containers:

• Rite Aid,107 Main Street, Greenfield, and other locations, carries this medication storage container. It’s small enough to fit in the fridge or in a small cabinet.
• Aubuchon Hardware, 200 Avenue A, Turners Falls can order a few types of lockable containers.
• CVS, 137 Federal Street, Greenfield, 1653 Main Street, Athol, and other CVS locations have medication lock boxes.
• Home Depot, 264 Mohawk Trail, Greenfield has safes and other lockable containers.
• Hamshaw Lumber in Orange, Greenfield, and Deerfield can order lockable containers.
• Baker Pharmacy, 52 Bridge St, Shelburne Falls has medication lock boxes or can order them quickly.
• Staples in Greenfield and other locations has a variety of lock boxes and filing cabinets that can be ordered online or through the store.

You can also call a local hardware store or pharmacy to see if they carry they type of lockable storage you want.

Thank you for helping to protect kids, youth, and pets!

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day happens twice a year, in April and October.

Here is some info about how to get rid of your unwanted medications and help youth to be more savvy about the risks of prescription medications and fake pills all year round.

What is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day?

On Take Back Day, community members are encouraged to bring their expired or unwanted medications and drop them off, no questions asked. 

In our region, multiple police departments are open as drop off locations in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.

Some departments have permanent drop boxes, and some are open just for Take Back Day.

Locally, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the Opioid Task Force, and other organizations – including youth health and youth substance use prevention coalitions like ours – promote and support local efforts. Over 74,000 pounds have been collected since 2011!

Here is a great post from 2024 by Those Nerdy Girls about National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, the thing we all need to do before bringing meds to drop off locations. It reminds us about how to make sure we find all the meds in the house, and it also includes the “flush list,” the list of the medications that are OK to flush down the toilet.

Find year-round drop locations at local pharmacies, hospitals, and police departments here. 

Need to dispose of needles/sharps?

Most drop off locations don’t accept needles/sharps. The Sharps Disposal Program of Franklin County has multiple drop-off locations. Learn more here.

Is there any way to safely dispose of unwanted medications in household trash?

Although it’s often better for the environment to use a drop box location, you can also do it safely at home. The FDA recommends these steps for disposing of  prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, and creams:

1. Remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter. This makes the medicine less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to anyone looking for drugs.
2. Put the mixture in something you can seal (a re-sealable zipper storage bag, empty can, or other container) to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out.
3. Throw the container in the garbage.
4. Scratch out your personal information on empty medicine packaging before throwing it away to protect your identity and privacy. 

Why is Take Back Day important?

Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. 

The majority of misused prescription drugs in this country are obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet. Every year, unused or expired prescription medications lead to accidental poisoning, misuse, overdoses, and suicides. Medications can also pollute drinking water sources and soil when they are flushed down the toilet or put in the trash.  

Talk with kids and teenagers about drugs and alcohol, including pills, cannabis, and nicotine. 

Talk and connect with youth about drugs and alcohol:
The Talk. They Hear You. campaign is free and includes tips and app to practice talking with kids and teens about alcohol and drugs. 
How to Connect with Your Teenager to Prevent Drug Use from The Partnership to End Addiction – concrete tips on staying involved and talking with youth.
Learn and talk with youth about the risks of fentanyl, which is being added to fake pills and other drugs:
Drop the F*Bomb is a campaign to help parents and caregivers talk with youth about the risks of fentanyl, including fake pills.

What else can we do to help year-round?

There are many ways to help prevent misuse, addiction, and overdose. Here are a few:

 When you are prescribed pain medicine after a surgery or medical procedure and think you won’t use all of it, you can request a smaller amount of medication – either a lower dose or fewer pills. If you are not sure, you can talk with the medical provider prescribing about the options.

 Lock up your medications and any other drugs, including cannabis. Lock boxes are available online and locally at Home Depot, the Turners Falls Aubuchon, and other locations. Locking up drugs can protect people and also pets.  

 Keep track of what you have, so you notice if anything is missing. 

 Clearly label medications and other drugs so they aren’t taken (or eaten) accidentally.

 If you think a person of any age or a pet has consumed medication that is not theirs or may have consumed too much, call the poison control center at (800) 222-1222 or call 911. 

 Talk with kids and youth about drugs and alcohol, including prescription and over-the-counter medication, fake pills, cannabis, and nicotine. See the yellow box above with great resources for learning about the issues and protecting the young people you care about.

Sources:  SAMHSA, NIDA, The Northwestern DA’s Office, the FDA, and listed resources.