Prescription drugs have helped many people combat disease and live longer, healthier lives. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly half of all Americans have taken at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days.

What's more, the CDC reports that physicians ordered or provided 2.6 billion prescription drugs for patients in 2010 alone.October is Let's Talk About Prescriptions Month, and with the prevalence of prescription drugs in American homes, it's the perfect time to discuss prescription drug safety, particularly for teens and older adults.According to a recent report by the Medicine Abuse Project, one in six teenagers have used a prescription drug to get high or change their mood, and 44 percent of teens have at least one friend who abuses prescription drugs.That same organization reports that more Americans die each year from drug overdoses than car crashes a tragic trend that's increasingly driven by the abuse of prescription drugs.The CDC has also found that more teens abuse prescription drugs than any other illicit drug except marijuana. And studies show that a majority of those abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.Abuse isn't the only problem we face with prescription drug safety.Polypharmacy when different doctors and pharmacies issue multiple prescriptions for the same patient can lead to prescription drug misuse, especially with older adults. Prescription drug misuse is defined as nonadherence to prescription directions that can be either willful or accidental.Misuse can take the form of overdosing, underdosing, using drugs for reasons other than intended, or combining drugs in ways that cause dangerous side effects.Why does misuse occur more frequently in older adults?By age 50, most of us experience some vision change, making it more difficult for older individuals to read the instructions on the medicine bottle.We may also experience more serious cognitive and memory issues as we get older. Individuals may not remember to take their medications, or may forget that they've already taken them. And sometimes overdosing may be a result of thinking that if a little of the drug works well, more will work better.The cost of drugs may also be an issue for many seniors, causing them to take their medications less frequently or in smaller doses than prescribed.What are the signs and symptoms to look for with prescription drug abuse and misuse?If you are a parent, friend or family member of a teenager, look for changes in sleep patterns and mood, new or different friends, loss or changes in appetite, and changes in grades or interest in activities such as playing sports.If you are a caregiver to an elderly person, be involved in the medication regimen of your loved one. You can check pill trays for obvious signs like too many or not enough pills left in the container.You can also look at refill patterns, whether it's too soon or too late. Be wary of a request for a refill when you know you've recently been to the pharmacy or received a mail order package.And be aware of conflicting test results, such as a lab test that shows consistently high cholesterol levels when the individual is on cholesterol medication.Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of many insurers that offer a medication adherence program for certain conditions like diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cholesterol and depression to help members stay on track with their medications.Blue Cross has also joined with many other organizations to support efforts such as National Drug Take-Back Day, held each spring and fall, to rid homes of unwanted and unused prescription drugs before they can be abused.While prescription drugs have many benefits in treating disease and illness, they can also lead to abuse and misuse if not handled properly. That's why it's important to talk about safety with the ones you love.Kara Malitsky, Pharm. D., R.Ph., is the director of pharmacy at Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.