Why are opioid pills and patches dangerous?

Opioids are medicines used to relieve moderate to severe pain. They may be used for a short time for pain, such as after surgery. Or they may be used to relieve long-term pain. When your doctor prescribes an opioid, you're getting strong medicine. It's important to protect yourself and others from its risks. Opioid medicine can cause serious problems, and even death, especially if it's misused.

Children and pets are at high risk when an opioid is kept within their reach. Opioid skin patches, such as fentanyl, are the most dangerous. Even a used patch still has a high dose of medicine in it. Small children have been killed by opioid patches they've found in the trash at home.

Opioids can also be misused or stolen. Be sure to store your medicine in a safe and secure place. When you are done using opioid medicine, get rid of it right away, and in the safest way you can.

How do you safely store opioid pills and patches?

It's important to store opioids safely so that they aren't used by the wrong person. Your pain medicine is only for you to take. If someone else takes your medicine, it can seriously harm or kill them.

You can safely store your medicine. Follow these tips.

• Store pills and patches up high and out of sight.
  • Keep them away from children and pets.
  • Return the container to the same place each time you take your medicine.
• Try locking your opioid medicine in a cabinet. A lock box is an ideal storage container, but these may be hard to find. Other containers could be a lockable tool box, fishing tackle box or cash lock box.
• Make sure the bottles are closed tightly.

  If they have a safety cap, make sure that it's locked. Tighten the cap until you hear a click or can't twist it anymore.

• Keep track of how many pills or patches you have left.

  You may want to keep track in a notebook.

• Let the people who live with you know about your medicine.
  • Tell them that it is only for you to take.
  • If guests have opioid medicine with them, ask them to keep it safe.

How do you safely get rid of opioid pills and patches?

If you have opioid pills or patches that you are not going to use, get rid of them right away. Do not keep your opioid medicine or opioid patches for later use.

Health Canada recommends that you take your opioid pills and patches to a pharmacy or take-back program.

If you can't get to a pharmacy or a take-back program, you can dispose of them in your household trash using these steps.

• Take the medicine out of its container.
• Mix it with something that tastes bad, such as cat litter or coffee grounds.
• Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag, and put the bag in your household trash.

Do not flush your medicine down the toilet or sink.

Take special care with used opioid patches. As soon as you peel a patch off of your skin, fold it in half with the sticky sides together. Immediately take it to the pharmacy to safely get rid of it. Do not throw them in the trash.

Where can you go to learn more?

To learn how and where to get rid of unused medicines in your area, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help. Your local trash and recycle centre may have a drop-off site. You can also look online at www.healthsteward.ca to find take-back programs in your area. Or you can visit www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/safe-disposal-prescription-drugs.html for more information about safely disposing of your medicine.