Prescription opioids can be prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain, but can also have serious risks and side effects. Common types of opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone. Although these prescription medications can be helpful when it comes to treating pain, when individuals do not properly use, store, or dispose of prescription medications, it creates an opportunity for drug misuse.
Did You Know?
- 95% of medication-related visits to an emergency department among children age 5 and under are due to a child getting into medicine when an adult was not looking
- 7 of 10 people who misuse opioids got them from friends or family
- Sharing prescription drugs is not only dangerous, it is illegal
- Flushing unwanted pills in the toilet can contaminate lakes, streams, fish, and wildlife
How to Safely Use Opioids:
- Only take medication that is prescribed to you and the recommended dosage
- Check the instructions every time you take a dose
- Do not break, chew, crush, or dissolve opioid pills
How to Safely Store Opioids
- Keep pain medication secure and out of sight to prevent them from being misused and to prevent child access and poisoning
- Keep medications in their original, child-safe packaging
- Store them in a secure but public part of your home so people don’t have a private moment to take medications
- Count and keep track of medications you have in your possession
How to Safely Dispose of Opioids:
- Drop off unused or expired medications for proper disposal at your participating law enforcement departments.
- Use an at-home drug disposal kit like The Deterra® Drug Deactivation System. The Deterra® Drug Deactivation System is a safe and easy way to get rid of unused and expired prescription drugs. Just follow three simple steps, as shown in the video below, to safely dispose of medications.
Don’t be an accidental drug dealer. Remember to Count It! Lock It! Drop It!
Count It!
Count your pills once every two weeks. This will prevent theft and ensure that medications are taken properly
Lock It!
Lock up your medications and store them in a place that others would not think to look.
Drop It!
Drop off unused/expired medications for proper disposal at your participating law enforcement departments. You can also dispose of medications at home by using a Deterra Drug Deactivation pouch. Click here to find a Volusia County disposal location or request free disposal pouches below.