America’s Opioid Crisis

Over the last few years, the opioid epidemic in this country has been a prevalent discussion in mainstream media. This is true especially recently, when the FDA released a statement this year regarding their position on opioid use and abuse. The FDA has now labeled all immediate release opioids (such as vicodin, oxycodone, methadone etc.) with a black box warning as they have been shown to be addictive, can be abused, misused and lead to overdose and death.

How big of a problem is this? Washington State has among the highest rate of opioid abuse or dependence in the country. On an average day in America, 3,900 people use opioids for non-medical purposes and 78 people die for an opioid-related overdose. Not only that, but because of the opioid epidemic, more and more people in the 18-25 year old demographic have turned to heroin. Up to 75% of heroin users started using prescription opioids before turning to heroin.

What can you do?

If you’ve been prescribed an opioid medication, there are a few important things to consider. Firstly, make sure you you understand when and how to take your prescription with the help of your provider. It is advised to take the least amount of opioids prescribed to control pain. To prevent abuse and misuse, it is important to properly store your prescription medications. Then, when you and your doctor have decided you no longer need opioid pain medications, make sure you dispose of them properly. By disposing of them when they are no longer needed, there is a decreased chance that they will be misused or taken by someone other than who they were prescribed. It also prevents accidental overdose in children and adults.

Safe storage of opioids-

Because the majority of people who use or misuse opioids get them from friends and/or family, is critical that you safely store your opioid prescriptions. This is especially true if you live with adolescents and young adults, who are more likely to misuse prescription medications. Here are some measures you can take to safely store your prescriptions-

Know where your medications are located
Count how many tablets you have on a regular basis so you know if any are missing.
Keep them in a secure locked location- medicine cabinets, nightstands, and purses are common places where people keep prescriptions, and are also the first place that those who looking to misuse or abuse the. You can purchase locking containers for prescriptions at the drug store or online.

Proper Disposal of Prescription Medications-

At this website, you can search for a pharmacy near you that will take back unused prescriptions medication (copy and paste you’re your browser)- https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e2s1
If this option does not provide a qualified convenient place to dispose of medications, you can safely dispose of them in your own home if you follow the steps laid out by the FDA-
- Do NOT flush your medications in the toilet, as they may leach into our drinking water
- Place the unwanted medications in an unpleasant substance (such as coffee grounds or kitty litter- do not crush medications)
- Put the mixture into a sealed container or plastic bag
- Conceal your personal information on the bottle by scratching off or covering with black permanent marker
- The sealed medication mixture and prescription medications can be disposed off in the trash