In 2016, more than 42,000 Americans died from a opioid overdose. That is nearly 115 people each day. As your local pharmacy, we are dedicated to helping our patients and community prevent prescription opioid abuse.
Opioids are drugs that work by reducing the intensity of pain signals that reach your brain. These drugs can be helpful for a short time but they have serious risks.
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS INCLUDE: HYDROCODONE, OXYCODONE, CODEINE, MORPHINE, AND FENTANYL
Opioid use disorder can occur when a patient has a hard time controlling his or her opioid use, which results in significant health or social problems. There are effective treatments for opioid use disorder.
Non-opioid medications or pain treatment options that do not involve prescription drugs can be effective with less risk. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen and others) may be as effective as or better than opioid medications for some types of pain. Also, research shows that physical therapy can help manage pain and improve your body’s function with less risk than prescription opioids.
If you or someone close to you has an addiction to pain medication, talk to your health care professional or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s treatment help line at (800) 662-HELP.
General Medication Safety Tips
Tips to Stay Safe:
Keep medications stored in a safe places, not easy for kids to access
Always keep medicines in their original bottles
Pay attention to prescriptions labels and follow directions
Contact us today for information on proper disposal of unused medications.