Do you remember Dr. Mom telling you never to take someone else's medications? Mom's wisdoms-and she had/has many-is like money in the bank when we listen. Do you know there is an alarming rise in fatal unintentional drug overdoses in our state? While Columbiana County is not on the top ten list, here are some words for the wise about some very real dangers to you and the people you love.

Anything that is used the wrong way, used by the wrong person or used in the wrong amount and can cause harm to someone is considered a poison. There are herbs that, in the right amounts, can be beneficial to our good health, yet in larger amounts can be lethal. The same applies to medications. Moderation is always wise. Knowledge is always a key to determining what is best for you. And that's what you want, right?

Consider this information from the Ohio Department of Helth (ODH), Office of Vital Statistics. "Percentage change in number of annual deaths for leading causes of injury, by mechanism and intent-Ohio, 1999-2006:"

- Firearm related (intentional) - 19 percent

-Homicide - 41 percent

-Suicide - 13 percent

-Unintentional motor vehicle traffic - -11 percent (that is minus 11 percent)

-Unintentional poisoning 249 percent

-All unintentional, 43 percent

Two things that really leap out at me are the decrease in traffic deaths (minus 11 percent) and, glaringly, unintentional poisoning increases of 249 percent! Isn't that something to be concerned about?

Let's put this into some perspective. HIV peaked in Ohio in 1995 but by 1998 it dropped to about the 1987 level (that doesn't mean HIV has gone away), the same level as unintentional deaths by drug overdoses, according to statistical data from ODH. Since 1992, however, there has been a dramatic rise in unintentional drug poisoning through 2007.

Between 1979 and 2006 epidemics of unintentional drug overdoses in Ohio shows a change of drug of choice. In 1979 the problem was heroin; from 1988-1995, crack cocaine; between 2001 and 207, prescription drugs. They are easy to get-right there in the family medicine chest.

There have been more deaths by drug poisonings in Ohio than the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq since March 2003. A high number of unintentional drug poisoning deaths are among the babyboomers and while more males succumb than females, the females are catching up.

Methadone, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycontin), fentanyl (patches) and morphine are at the top of the list of drugs of potential abuse.

"Methadone is responsible for more single-drug deaths and was involved in far more deaths than any other drug in West Virginia," advises JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association.)

Are you at risk? Talk to your physician about your individual situation. By the way, those TV commercials depicting drug dealers whining about losing business to the family medicine chest are dead on.

Family Recovery Center promotes the well being of individuals, families and communities. For more information about substance abuse and our education, prevention and treatment programs, contact FRC at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468 or e-mail, info@familyrecovery.org. FRC is funded, in part, by United Way of Northern Columbiana County.