The opioid epidemic has a problem with patients who have been prescribed opioid painkillers receiving not only more than they needed but often sharing the medications with others. 

This news is from a recent study of more than 1,000 adults prescribed painkillers such as Oxycontin or Vicodin.  This finding points to a significant problem of how some Americans are gaining access to addictive pain medications compounding and fueling the nation’s epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse and overdose threats.

The 2015 research surveyed 1,055 adults prescribed painkillers in the previous year.  Participants were asked on their use of opioids, how they stored the medication, and if they shared it with anyone else.  Almost six in ten of those surveyed admitted to having an excess amount of the drugs of what they actually used. Those who shared their painkillers, eight percent said they gave them to a friend and 14 percent said they gave them to a relative, while three-quarters shared their medication with someone who was experiencing pain. 

Another finding from the study was that fewer than one in ten kept their opioid meds stored away under lock and key.  When it came to receiving storage information, only one-third stated getting information from their doctor or nurse while 45 percent said this the source of this information was from the drug packaging or from a pharmacist. In addition, more than 60 percent of the survey participants who had leftover opioids kept their drugs for “future use.”

This study clearly demonstrates the vast problem of patients prescribed painkillers sharing with someone else, not storing them under lock and key and keeping them for extended periods of time. 

To avoid a potentially dangerous situation of painkillers falling into the hands of those who do not need them and to protect yourself as well, here are some tips to follow if you are prescribed an opioid:

·         Store opioid medication just as securely as any valuable in your home.  Instead of keeping them in a medicine cabinet, place them in a secure place where they can be locked up.  Avoid leaving pills where others can gain easy access such as on a nightstand, countertop, or in plastic bags or transparent plastic containers. 

·         Keep notes on how many pills are in each prescription bottle or packet – this makes it easier to notice when they are missing and can be a sign that someone other than you is using your medication. 

·         If a young child or teenager is prescribed a painkiller, warn them of the danger of addiction and closely monitor their dosage and refills and keep the medication under your control. 

·         Any leftover opioid medication should be disposed of as soon as possible.  Many communities offer a location for the public to take unused medication to be disposed of properly and outside of the home. 

·         To avoid side effects, follow the directions carefully.  Opioids are associated with side effects such as drowsiness, constipation, and depressed breathing depending on the amount taken.  Taking too much can lead to life-threatening situations.  Do not crush or break the pills as this can alter the rate at which the medication is absorbed and lead to overdose and death. 

·         Do not mix opioids with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates or benzodiazepines.  All of these substances can slow breathing and could lead to life-threatening respiratory distress.