Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications Tool Kit ... - Home

Notes to the Instructor
MODULE 9: OVER-THE-COUNTER
DRUGS
• Be sure that your employees know that it is their responsibility to read the warning
labels on any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, even ones that they have taken for years.
• Point out to your employees that the effects of drugs can change over time. Just
because a drug has been used in the past without any difficulty does not mean that
there may not be problems in the future.
• Many people think that OTC drugs are harmless. You should make it perfectly clear
that the misuse or abuse of any drug, no matter how seemingly harmless, may result
in dangerous consequences.
• OTCs should not be taken in combination with any other drug unless a physician or
pharmacist indicates that the combination is acceptable. Point out to your employees
that this includes alcohol, OTCs, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs.
• Make sure your employees, particularly those that must handle volatile substances,
understand their danger. Point out that they should be using standard company safety
practices around these products to avoid inadvertent inhalation and subsequent
physical reactions.
• Part 3 of the videotape from the RTAP—Substance Abuse in Rural Transit
Program provides an extensive discussion of over-the-counter drugs. If you wish to
supplement this training program, show part 3 of this video before addressing the
discussion points.
Presentation
View Graph 9-1
Over-the-Counter Drugs 51