[irq11]

We are having our first home study visit so I am trying to do everything "right" beforehand. Currently we do not lock up meds, they are up high where they cannot be reached by STBAS even by climbing up on a chair.

I had thought about just using a small locked box like some people on here do ... but I have several chronic health conditions (nothing serious) that require prescription drugs for maintenance, and I have to do mail order and get 90 days at a time. One med is 4 ginormous pills every day, so I end up with a huge number of pill bottles. I also have a large number of OTC meds, vitamins, and supplements. So I would need like 10 locked boxes.

We are currently in an apartment and I can't add any hardware to anything. I know some people have added a lock to cupboards but I can't do that. We also have very little cupboard space so it would have to a cupboard that is used for many other things as well and would be a huge nuisance.

Any suggestions? Any inexpensive (less than $50) standalone pieces that I could adapt and use as a lockbox? I do use these meds twice each day so it would have to be easily accessible (to me, not to the kiddo).

[greenrobin]

how about a file cabinet with a lock?

should work.

[phxmama]

I have my medications, alcohol and everything that needs to be locked up in my walk in closet. Any chance you have a walk in? It is very easy to take off the door knob and replace it when you move out.

[blueflower]

Do you actually need a lock box? We only need to keep our's out of their reach. When we had a teen he could obviously have reached them (he was a bit taller than me), but it was never an issue. At that time I think we kept most of them in our bedroom closet. We have since moved them to a more convenient location.

[skc515]

You can also find plastic trunks that are the dorm room type that are lockable. They're big, but not too atrocious.

[Hunterdon]

We bought a mail box and put a lock on that. Plenty of room ... makes for an interesting conversation piece!

[hkolln]

When we had to do that we bought a cabinet from Walmart with doors. It has shelves and everything. We moved our medicine cabinet to it and bought a lock for the door (applied a hinge to the doors and locked it).

[annamc15]

I use my linen closet for all meds and chemicals and just tossed one of those kid proof knob cover things. I keep my towels and toilet paper in the cabinet under the sink and sheets in under bed containers in each room. Peanut has severe asthma and I got in the habit of keeping all of that paraphernalia in a high cabinet in the kitchen for ease, but that was after several months with her when I was 100% certain that's she just not the kind of kid to get into meds on her own.

[NotDoneYet]

We have a TOT lock on one our cabinets. So worth it and inexpensive, I'm out and about right now and don't have more specifics but Google it.

[peskie]

we use a file cabinet drawer

[JeannineW]

I had ours up on a ridiculously high shelf in our closet. It was so high I could barely reach it on tip toes. That wasn't good enough for DSS so I bought a cute little box with a flimsy lock on it. The lock was similar to a diary lock. Perfect (according to DSS). We have the seldom used meds in a locked closet along with the Christmas presents.

How about a tackle box type box? I think most have a way to attach a lock.

[TemporaryMom]

They have tot locks now that don't require drilling into the cabinet. Just put one on and when you move, you fill in the screw holes with putty. I would use that for your big bottles. I can't find it on their website now but I got this orange combination lock box at Walgreens that I use for my meds I take at night. This way I can keep them at my bed stand. I'd not recommend this to children who are Tweens or teens as they could Probly jimmy it open.

If you are taking the >8 set, I would get a strongbox for sure. It is a new thing that kids raid their parents medicines and share with friends.

Amazon.com: Safety 1st Tot-Lok Magnetic Key: Baby

[RNmama]

We have lots of vitamins/supplements (and a few meds) and are using magnetic tot locks on our kitchen cabinets.

Since that is not an option for you, I would either A) buy a locking file cabinet, a 2 drawer one is around $70 in my area or B) put magnetic tot locks on a dresser or other piece of furniture you already own. If you don't have anything suitable, look for cheap used furniture you can attach locks to, maybe on craigslist.

In my state, meds must be locked "with a key" but a magnetic lock counts, it doesn't have to be a regular key lock. Check your local rules to be sure.

If your meds are like my supplements, you'll need something bigger than a tackle box

[Vtmom3]

Do you have an empty suitcase you are storing? A simple padlock on the zipper should work...

[meldamo]

Our agency makes us double lock all meds! We have a cabinet with a magnetic lock and then three separate locked safes in the cabinet--1 for OTC meds, 1 for prescription meds, and 1 for topical meds.