Does Your College-Bound Child Know What to Do if They Make a Mistake with Their Medicines?

Published August 20, 2024

After high school, many young adults look forward to new and exciting opportunities. Some of them leave home for college, feeling independent and able to handle most situations. But college life can be challenging. Students must learn to juggle classes, make time to study, work, and spend time with friends. Making health and safety a priority is also important. If your child needs to take medicine to treat a medical condition, mistakes can happen. This can lead to a life-threatening situation.

Here’s what you can do: If your child is going off to college for the first time or is a returning student, talk to them about the medicines they need to take each day or those they may need to take on occasion. Provide them with the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222).Talk to them about what to do if they make a mistake with their medicine. Encourage your child to seek medical attention (student health center or local hospital emergency room) if the Poison Control tells them to or if they have any concerns about their safety.

In addition, share these Five Tips with your college student:

1. Visit the health center. Stop by the school’s health center to find out what services are available and what to do if you get sick. Many college health centers have a variety of free health information and pamphlets available. They may also offer health screenings or vaccines (e.g., flu vaccine).
2. Use medicines wisely. If you get a cold, a stomachache, or even a headache, or if you have a chronic health problem (e.g., diabetes, depression), you may need to take medicine. If you take an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine to treat the problem, it is important to make sure you take the medicine as directed. To avoid harmful counterfeit or fake medicine, obtain your medicine from a pharmacy and never take medicine from a friend. Do not use expired medicine and make sure the medicine is stored properly. Never share prescription medicines with other people, even if they have the same disease or symptoms. The medicine may be harmful to them.
3. Take care of mental health. Adjusting to college life can be very stressful. Students may become sad or depressed if things are not going well or may begin to feel overwhelmed or anxious. It is important to seek help. Talk to someone you trust and visit the health center for mental health resources. If you already have a mental health condition, it is important to develop a plan with your healthcare provider before arriving on campus. Learn the signs of anxiety and depression and reach out for help.
4. Commit to getting more sleep. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. It is important to limit the amount of caffeine you drink and avoid taking naps after 3 pm. Avoid the use of powdered caffeine as it is a powerful stimulant that can result in an accidental overdose. If you have problems sleeping, talk to your healthcare team about the pros and cons of taking prescription and OTC sleep medicines. Some medicines can cause serious side effects, so they should be used with caution.
5. Protect your eye health. It is important to get your eyes checked regularly and to use glasses or contacts if needed. But other problems can occur, such as eye infections or corneal abrasions (scratches on the lens of your eye). If you are applying make-up or putting in your contacts, it is important to be careful. Do not share your make-up with anyone. Clean your contacts regularly and do not purchase decorative (i.e., colored) contacts without a prescription. All contacts should be prescribed by a licensed eye doctor after an eye exam.

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