As we enter cold and flu season odds are you'll be at the store looking for cough medicine.  It will be difficult to get without assistance...and that is a good thing.

Turns out 2.4 million teenagers abuse cough medicine every year, and the number is climbing.  Other prescription drug abuse is also on the rise.  That is why Congress enacted legislation making October National Medicine Abuse month.

There are a number of resources about this topic, but one of the best I've found is Five Moms.  It was launched in 2007 by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.  Together, these moms who come from a variety of backgrounds (accounting, education, healthcare, etc.) are sharing their experience and expertise to help parents get informed and be involved in their kids lives to prevent abuse or stop it if it is occurring.

Whether you have youth in your household or not on a regular basis, you owe it to yourself to be wise to the signs of abuse so you can help stop it.  Keep your medicines hidden and be aware of how much is in each bottle.  Check after you have had guests in your home.  Preventing drug abuse is everyone's responsibility because the ramifications to its continuation affect us all.