Even simple changes you can make in your own home can help keep prescription opioids off the streets and away from our loved ones. Be a part of the solution and help us to eliminate opioid addiction.
House by House, School by School, Block by Block
Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone else’s prescription medication Many factors determine how we respond to medication—our genetics, weight, and pre-existing medical conditions, amongst others. Therefore, individuals can respond to the same medication differently. Engaging in behaviors of self-diagnosis and self-prescribing is dangerous—always report any health concerns to a healthcare professional. Regardless of intention, sharing or taking someone else’s medication is not safe. Only use medications under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
The gold standard of medication storage is lock-boxes, medication safes, or other lockable spaces. You could also purchase timer or combination lock caps for your prescription opiates.
Timer and combination lock caps will not deter someone from taking an entire bottle, but people with substance use disorder typically only take a few pills so as not to be caught. Timer caps reset to zero each time the bottle is opened so that a person can know how long it has been since the last dosage or if someone else has opened the bottle and possibly taken some of the medicine. Combination lock pill bottles serve as a deterrent for children and others who may want to easily access prescription pain medicine.
Drawers, nightstands, kitchen and bathroom cabinets are easily accessed by children, family & friends and visitors. We are creatures of habit and most people tend to keep their medicines in one of these locations. If someone is looking for prescription pain medication to misuse, they will often find them in these locations.
Print and share this handy checklist with friends, family and neighbors to help ensure that prescription medications are stored safely in your own home and in the homes of your neighbors. With your help, we CAN keep dangerous drugs off the streets and out of the hands of our children and loved ones.
*Find additional information online at www.cpsummit.org
Deactivation pouches, such as the ones used as part of our Deterra® Drug Deactivation System Project, make it easy and convenient for individuals to destroy unused prescription medicine in their own homes. The user-friendly pouch deactivates prescription drugs and renders the contents safe for landfills. After filling the specially formulated pouch with prescription drugs and regular tap water, it can be sealed and thrown away with the household trash.
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STEP 1 Add Pills to Pouch  |
STEP 2 Add Water to Pouch  |
STEP 3 Seal and Throw Away  |
