You can help reduce opioid (pain medicine or painkiller) misuse by monitoring your medicines. You should also monitor the medicine use of children or others in your care.
- Start by counting how many pills are in each of your prescription bottles or pill packets, and keep track of refills. Do this for your medicines and the medicines of others you care for.
- Keep a written medicine record. If opioids (pain medicine or painkillers) are prescribed, write down how much of the medicine you or someone else takes and when it is taken.
- Make sure that no one shares prescription medicines. What has been prescribed for one person may not be safe for someone else.
- If you have children, talk to people who might be taking care of your children. Ask them to store their medicines securely.
