FDA announces enhanced warnings for immediate-release opioid pain medications related to risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death
New safety warnings also added to all prescription opioid medications to inform prescribers and patients of additional risks related to opioid use
Families who have suffered from legal drug overdose and the addiction recovery community have known for years that our nation is suffering from a preventable epidemic.
The death and addiction rates over the past 10 years have skyrocketed.
Please take a moment to read the following:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm491739.htm
I urge you to consider the following helpful tips for you or a loved one who is prescribed highly addictive medications:
- Please speak to your loved one and your family doctors, dentists and caregivers about administering the proper dosage of prescription medication.
- Purchase a locked security box for medications that will be monitored by friends and family
- Tell your medical doctor if you are in recovery from addiction and ask for information regarding non-addictive pain medications.
- Have a friend keep the medication and hand the prescription to you as an added precaution
- Talk to your doctor about the possibility of not taking more of the medication when you are feeling well enough to not need it.
- Learn more about and practice, pain management techniques to help mitigate the desire for more highly addictive, legal prescription medications.
- Contact your local Health Department to learn how and where to dispose of medications in a manner that is safe for the environment.
Chris McDuffie, MA, RRW
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888.535-1516
