Most children have free-access to pills

BOSTON (WWLP) - More than half of Massachusetts parents say that their children have free access to their prescriptions drugs, and members of an addiction awareness group say parents need to change their relaxed attitude.

According to a recent statewide survey, 56% of parents say their kids can access their prescription medications in open areas like kitchen or bathroom cabinets. One in seven parents say that they have given their children pain medication that was not prescribed to them.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org, an addiction prevention group, released the results to lawmakers at the Massachusetts State House Wednesday. The group says the results are startling because prescription drugs can be dangerous to children and easily abused, and should be safeguarded the way jewelry or cash would be.

“Folks in Massachusetts understand that prescription drug abuse is a problem, but the study shows they don't think it's their problem,” Partnership at Drugfree.org CEO Steve Pasierb said. “They know their kids have access to prescription drugs, yet they're not talking to their kids. They think their kids friends may be experimenting with prescription drugs but they don't think their kids are.“

Michael Botticelli of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services advises parents to keep medicine in a safe place. “I think we sometimes do forget as a culture, quite honestly, that some of these medications are very potent in terms of their effect,” he said.

Advocates say parents should safely dispose of any unused medication by dropping it off at their local police or fire department. The next national drug take back day is October 29.