Patients and Families
Prevention. We all play a part.
Many people struggle with substance use disorders. We can all help keep homes, workplaces, and communities safer by handling commonly misused drugs responsibly.
If you have questions about drug use or abuse, don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist.
Step 1: Take exactly as directed.
You should always follow your health care provider's instructions. If you change how you take opioids and other commonly abused drugs without talking to your provider, you increase the chances of serious problems including misuse, addiction and overdose.
Talk to your provider right away if you start taking prescription painkillers when you don't feel pain or if you're worried about opioid dependence.
Our pharmacists have a legal responsibility to ensure that the prescriptions they fill have been issued for a legitimate medical purpose. Because of this, they may question the prescribing of drugs, doses and combinations as well as other factors.
Step 2: Store securely.
Commonly abused prescription medications like painkillers are highly sought after. Keep prescription medications in a safe and secure location in your home so that they cannot be taken by others.
We recommend storing prescription medications in their original bottles in one of the following:
- locked cabinet
- hidden location
- lock box
Pharmacist Tip:
Keep track of the number of pills in your bottles and of your refills. If you need to refill more often than expected, there could be a problem.
Step 3: Dispose properly.
Unused or expired medication should not be kept in the home. To prevent abuse and accidental poisoning, always safely discard leftover medication.
3 ways to dispose:
- Many communities operate safe disposal collection sites. Find a Location Near You
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has guidelines for disposing medications at home.
- You can purchase an inexpensive mail-back disposal system. Get details
Pharmacist Tip:
Don't share your medication with others.
For additional information, tools and advice, visit:
1 "Today's Heroin Epidemic," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/heroin/index.html accessed 7/24/15.
2 2015 Partnership Attitude Tracking Survey, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
3 Injury Prevention and Control: Data & Statisics (WISQARS") 2014, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html.