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

• Monitor: patients should always be in a position to know if any pills are missing
  • Take note of how many pills are in each prescription bottle or pill packet
  • Keep track of your refills for your own medication, as well as for other members of the household
  • Make sure friends and relatives—especially grandparents—are aware of the risks and regularly monitor their own medicines
• Secure: prescriptions should be secured the same way as other valuables in the home, like jewelry or cash
  • Take prescription medications out of the medicine cabinet and hide them in a place only you know about
  • Encourage relatives and friends to secure their medications
  • If possible, keep all medicines in a safe place
    • An existing fire safe or gun safe
    • Use a cut-proof bag designed for travel safety
    • Locking medicine box or cabinet

American Pain Foundation. Problems with Opioids Can Be Prevented. Available at: http://www.painfoundation.org/painsafe/healthcareprofessionals/pharmacotherapy/opioids/preventing-problems.html. Accessed January 19, 2011.