Medication or Candy?

Pile of colorful candies and pills mixed together showing that it’s hard to tell them apart

What do medicine and candy have in common? To children, they may look alike. Medicines that look like candy can be big trouble to children who swallow them.

Most poisonings are medication-related, and look-alikes play a part. Pain pills, laxatives and vitamins may look like candy to children who don't know how to read. Even liquid medicines can be appealing to a child because they often smell good and, to very young children, can easily be mistaken for juice.

Access denied

So how do you keep poison look-alikes out of the hands of kids? Preventing exposure to poisons is simple: Lock them away. Put medications in designated, locked cabinets. Medication lockboxes are also available for families who prefer to keep medications on a counter or nightstand and want to ensure children can't access them.

If a poisoning occurs and your child is breathing normally, call the North Texas Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 if your child is struggling to breathe.

Teens, beware!

Teenagers can be fooled by look-alike products, too. If they share medicine or take it from others, teenagers may unknowingly take medication containing the deadly drug fentanyl. Some fentanyl-laced products can look like candy or harmless pills teens have taken before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl-related adolescent overdose deaths nearly tripled from 2019 to 2021. Nearly a quarter of those deaths involved counterfeit pills that weren't prescribed by a doctor.

Help protect your teenager by telling them not to take pills or other medications from anyone. When they need to take a medication, assist them with dosing to ensure they take the recommended amount.

More medication related information

Challenges of substance abuse | Cook Children's
Lock, label, educate and safely store | Cook Children's
Get a medication lock box | Cook Children's

Eliminate household risks

Medications aren't the only household items that can cause harm. Here are a few more to be aware of:

Button battery injuries in children: a growing risk| American Academy of Pediatrics
Button battery safety| Cook Children's
Face paints and makeup – how to avoid toxic ingredients| American Academy of Pediatrics
Food poisoning| Cook Children's
Hand sanitizers: protect children from poisoning risk| American Academy of Pediatrics
Laundry room and detergent safety| American Academy of Pediatrics
Liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes can kill children| American Academy of Pediatrics
What can parents do about heavy metals in baby food?| Cook Children's