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Allied Against Opioid Abuse is working to educate the public on the rights, risks and responsibilities to help prevention the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids.
Did you know that keeping old pills that are in your medicine cabinet or on the kitchen counter could play a role in these medicines falling into the wrong hands? Too often the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids starts in the home. In fact, according to the most recent SAMSHA survey on drug use and health, more than half of those who misused prescription pain relievers in the past year received the medicine from a friend or relative.
Education gap
A national poll found that nearly 90 percent of consumers who keep their unused prescription opioids were saving them for future use. Moreover, an estimated 62 percent said their healthcare provider or pharmacist had not talked to them about safe storage or disposal of prescription opioids, while 68 percent said they would be more likely to safely store and dispose of prescription opioids if they were given information on best practices.
This starts by understanding the rights, risks and responsibilities related these pain medicines.
To learn more about the rights, risks and responsibilities associated with prescription opioids, which includes the safe and appropriate use, storage and disposal of these pain medicines, visit www.AgainstOpioidAbuse.org.
This article originally appeared in a special Opioid Awareness supplement for USA Today. The supplement, developed by Mediaplant, was also published online.