Promote safe storage and disposal
of opioids and all medications.
The American Medical Association Task Force
to Reduce Opioid Abuse strongly supports
the education and awareness of physicians,
patients, policymakers, and other key
stakeholders regarding the risks of prescription
opioids and other medications if they are not
taken as prescribed—as well as steps needed
to ensure safe storage and disposal of expired,
unwanted or unused medications. The Task
Force urges all physicians and other health
care professionals to take three steps that
can help:
First, physicians and other health care
professionals need to talk to their patients
and educate them about safe use of
prescription opioids—more than 70 percent of
people using opioid analgesics for nonmedical
reasons get them from family or friends. Opioid analgesics should only be taken as directed since misuse or diversion of these products can be illegal, extremely harmful and even deadly.
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