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Opioids are narcotic pain relievers, prescribed for short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain, as after a surgery.  Examples include hydrocodone (such as Vicodin), oxycodone (such as Percocet), and codeine (used in some medications to treat cough).

Opioids are not harmless. According to Beacon Health Options, opioid overdose is now the No. 1 cause of accidental death in America.  Every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for using or misusing prescription opioids2. Anyone who takes opioids, even for a short amount of time, is at risk for addiction and death.

Explore the chart below for information on everything from questions to ask your provider if you are prescribed an opioid, all the way to how to get help for addiction.

​Alternative pain managementSafe storage and disposal
MisuseAddictionGet Help
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Safe storage and disposal

If you have children or teenagers at home, consider a lockbox for your medications. Small children can mistake medicine for candy and teenagers or their friends may seek out medications for non-medicinal uses.

Do not hold onto leftover opioids, as they can be a target for theft by people who you may never suspect: family, friends, or possibly kids.

To find a secure drop box near you for disposal of your leftover medications, visit Operation Medicine Drop.