Copyright American Pain Foundation. Content created as part of an educational grant.

• The following principles of safe use should be followed by persons using opioids:
  • Never take a prescription painkiller unless it is prescribed to you; inform all healthcare professionals you see (and who prescribe for you) what medications you are taking
  • Do not take pain medicine with alcohol 
  • Do not take more doses than prescribed
  • Use of other sedative or anti-anxiety medications can be dangerous
  • Avoid using prescription painkillers to facilitate sleep
  • Lock up prescription painkillers

APF. PainSAFE™. Six Opioid Safety Steps. Available at:
http://www.painfoundation.org/ painsafe/safety-tools-resources/six-opioid-safety-
steps.pdf.; Zero Unintentional Deaths. Six Steps to Zero. Available at:
http://www.zerodeaths.org/. Accessed February 7, 2011.