Easy Ways to Improve Opioid Safety

Guidelines to Help Protect You and Your Family

Opioids are often prescribed after surgery to help relieve pain. Below are some simple ways you can improve opioid safety.

1. Talk With Your Doctor

If you have been prescribed an opioid, talk with your doctor about the risks and if possible, discuss alternatives to opioids. There are other ways to treat pain that are often more effective and have fewer risks and side effects. See UseOnlyAsDirected.org for more information.

2. Keep Them Secure

Always use the child-resistant cap and store opioid medications out of reach of children and pets. Keep them out of public view to reduce the risk of theft.

3. No Sharing

In this case, sharing is not caring! 75% of Utahns currently addicted to opioids get them from a friend or family member. Prescription medicines are prescribed only for you. Doctors consider a lot of different factors, including the weight, other medical conditions, and potential interactions with other medications you might be taking (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2018). Sharing or borrowing doctor prescribed medication is dangerous and illegal.

4. Safely Dispose

Properly disposing of unused opioid medication can help prevent misuse, accidental overdoses, and addiction. Safely dispose of medications at a drop box near you! Find a Utah County Location by clicking here or search other locations at UseOnlyAsDirected.org.

If traveling to a drop box is inconvenient, you can also purchase Dispose Rx at a store/pharmacy or use an FDA-approved household disposal method. Dispose Rx is a powder that deactivates medication (including opioids) when mixed with water, and turns into a gel-like substance that is non-abusable.