Safe Prescription Drug Use
If a medical professional prescribes you any type of medication, engage them in conversation to learn more about the medication and its effects.
Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist include:
- Why am I being prescribed this medication?
- How much of this medication do I take and for how long?
- How will this interact with my other medications?
- What are the side effects?
- What are my other options for managing my pain?
“Prescription medication misuse” includes:
- Taking a medication prescribed to you more often than prescribed by a doctor.
- Taking a medication prescribed to you in a different dose than prescribed by a doctor.
- Taking a medication prescribed for someone else.
- Taking a pain medication to feel a high.
Other medication safety tips:
- Keep a detailed list of all current medications including prescription, non-prescription, vitamins and supplements. Share this list with your doctors and pharmacist.
- Never share your prescription medications with friends or family.
- Talk openly and honestly with teens and young adults in your life about safe use of prescription medications, especially opioids.
- Keep medications locked away to prevent them from getting in the hands of children, adolescents, guests and anyone else who may enter your home.
- Safely dispose of your medications as soon as they are no longer needed.