Family Emergency and Please Check in on Your Loved Ones!

By Ashley Mitchell

Monday I received the call that my aunt died from an overdose. My mother and grandmother have been her only caregivers for as long as I can remember. So the news came as a shock. She did not die from the typical overdose that we are used to hearing about, that I am sure you as a reader may be a little tired of hearing me write about. She died from an overdose from over the counter medication. Something that should be preventable, but she was always in the mindset that if it is over the counter then it is safe. Unfortunately, that is not the case. 

Just because it is over the counter, just because it is a name brand, does not mean it is safe. It does not mean that you do not have to follow the recommended dosage and it does not mean that you should not let your doctor know if you are taking something daily. Just the opposite. When taking OTC you need to read the label and follow the recommended dosage. I understand the pain of a headache, especially when you take Tylenol and it doesn’t work. Taking more than is recommended is something you need to discuss with your doctor, not to just guess.  While I know some may see this as common sense it is more complicated than that. A consumer poll found that one third of Americans reported taking more than the recommended dosage of a nonprescription medication, some citing “it would increase effectiveness”, but this is not the case. Taking more than the recommended dosage does not increase the effectiveness and if you continue taking it this way it can lead to health issues. One study even found that 46% of people were at risk of overdose by using two or more products with the same active ingredients. 

Tylenol overdoses account for around 56,000 emergency room visits and 26,000 hospitalizations annually. In one study that focused on acetaminophen, 24% of adults demonstrated they would overdose by exceeding the daily maximum dose. 

  Overdoses of NSAIDs like Advil or Motrin account for 103,000 hospitalizations and it is estimated that 17,000 people die from complications from NSAIDs. 6,000 emergency room visits are due to Dextromenthorphan, a OTC cough suppressant. Among chronic pain sufferers, a survey found that 43% admitted to intentionally exceeding the recommended dose at some point. Common vitamins are even toxic in large doses and can complicate things when combined with other OTCs and prescriptions, which is why it is so important to be truthful with your doctor about what you are taking. 

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know what is in your medicine cabinet and how much, especially if you are caring for elderly family members or have children. I encourage all of us to leave the “It can’t happen to me” mentality and try our best to embrace preventive measures. While we cannot be 100% flawless we can try our best to be preventive and take care of each other. 

• Come to Save a Life and get a lock box or a lock bag. Lock up prescriptions and OTCs that you may be concerned about. These are here free of charge. 

• Use Deterra bags and get rid of unneeded or expired medications. We have these bags at Save a Life. They are very easy to use. Add the medication to the bag, add water, wait, and then seal and throw away. It is easy, clean, and environmentally friendly. 

• Bring unneeded medications to a medicine drop box at your local police station or local Walgreens. 

• Go to the CDC website and print off a Personal Medicines List. This is where you can list all your medications, prescriptions and OTC. List what it is, directions, and why you take it. We also have copies at Save a Life you can pick up or we will gladly mail you one or email you a copy. 

• If you have family members living alone, especially elderly family members, please check in on them. Check in daily or every other day. This is as quick as a simple phone call. 

• Keep all prescriptions, nonprescriptions, and vitamins away from children. Lock them away in a lock box or store them in an area where children cannot access them.

• Come to Save a Life and pick up free Narcan and have a quick training. While it will not work on an overdose of many OTCs, it will be helpful to have on hand. Prescriptions can get confused. We have helped many family members who were glad to have Narcan on hand when prescriptions were confused and they saved the life of their family member.

Losing my aunt has reminded me that prevention is not just about responding to crises; it is about recognizing the hidden risks we often overlook in our own homes. Over-the-counter medications are a part of daily life for so many of us, yet their dangers are rarely talked about with the seriousness they deserve. We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our community to stay informed, stay cautious, and take simple steps that can prevent tragedies like this one. My hope is that by sharing her story, someone else is spared from receiving the phone call my family received. Let’s honor those we have lost by protecting those we still have through education, safe storage, open conversations, and the willingness to check in on each other. Prevention truly starts with each of us, and together, we can save lives.

Open Hours:

Mondays: 2pm - 6:00pmTuesdays: 3:00pm - 6:00pmWednesdays: 2:00pm - 6:00pmThursdays: 3:00pm - 6:00pmFridays: 2:00pm - 6:00pm

SAVE A LIFE LOCATION: 19 VFW Road, Lincoln, Maine. Phone: 207-403-9100

Please check our Facebook page at Save a Life Recovery Resource Center frequently for changes to the schedule. Occasional cancellations are unavoidable, and that is the quickest way to see if your activity is being affected: facebook.com/SaveALifeRecoveryNetwork

      If you would like to donate there are several ways to do so: 

Venmo: @salrecovery: Paypal: director@salrecovery.org 

Checks can be mailed to: Save A Life Recovery Resource Center, P.O. Box 12, Lincoln, ME 04457. 

Current Programs at Save A Life:

·   Monday: Poetry Afternoons,  NA* 6:00pm

·  Tuesday: AA* 12:00pm,  Afternoon Tea Time 3:00pm

·  Wednesday:  Beyond the Screen-Technology Support Group 4:00pm, Creative Writing^ 5:30pm

·  Thursday: NEW Teen Recovery Coach is IN 3-6pm Guitar and ukulele lessons, crafts, activities, and more.  NA* 6:00pm

·  Friday:   The Balance Circle-Mental Health Peer Support Group 2:30pm,  Board Games and Retro TV Hour 4:00pm, AA* 7:00pm

·  Saturday: Music Club^ at 5:00pm until finish. Guitars, microphones, drums, and keyboard available for use, or bring your own! 5-5:30pm Acoustic time. All genres after.

·  Sunday AA* 1:00pm

^Free Childcare Available

* NA and AA are not affiliated with any other organization or institution. 

Special Programs and Events:

     We provide Secondary Prevention! – Free Narcan™, wound care and hygiene kits, locked medication storage containers, medication disposal kits, etc. Quick and easy free training! All are welcome during any of our drop-in times.

      RECOVERY COACH SERVICES- If you are seeking recovery from any substance or unhealthy lifestyle or need guidance as an affected other, and would like a Peer Recovery Coach to help you on your journey, we offer one-on-one recovery coaching FREE OF CHARGE. Save A Life now has a new volunteer Teen Recovery Coach.

     RECOVERY COACH TRAINING: Free virtual training to become a Recovery Coach is available. To learn more, please contact Save A Life at (207) 403-9100.

      For additional information, please visit the Save A Life Recovery Resource Center’s Facebook Page facebook.com/SaveALifeRecoveryNetwork, visit the Save A Life website at thecenter207.org, or find us on Instagram: @TheCenter207