QUESTIONS ABOUT OPIOIDS IF THEY AFFECT YOUR LIFE

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT I MAY BE ADDICTED? You should pay attention if you can't stop yourself from taking the opioid. Also, if your tolerance to the effects of the opioid goes up. Consult your prescribing doctor if you fear that you may be addicted. A confidential helpline is offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that can connect you with treatment services in your state. Call 800-662-4357. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH UNUSED OPIOIDS? So that experts can dispose of them, the Food and Drug Administration advises that you seek a take-back program. To find a collector in your area, call the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) at 800-882-9539. The FDA offers these steps if you must dispose of them yourself. First, do not crush the tablets or capsules. Mix the medicines with coffee grounds, cat litter or dirt. Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag. Then put it in your trash. Before discarding empty bottles, scratch out all personal information on label. HOW CAN I HELP AN ADDICTED FRIEND? Try to convince your family member or friend to get a doctor's evaluation advises the National Institute on Drug Abuse(NIDA). If not a family physician, you can find a specialist through American Society of Addiction Medicine(asam.org) or the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry(aaap.org). Try to be encouraging and positive. Addiction is not a character flaw. It is a medical matter. The NIDA's website, the drugabuse.gov says repeated use of opioids actually changes the brain. The site also says, "Emphasize...that it takes a lot of courage to seek help for a drug problem. HOW CAN I REPORT A 'BAD' DOCTOR? The state medical boards, which license physicians, handle complaints against doctors. That includes those who are "prescribing drugs in excess or without legitimate reason". You can find the board for your state through the Federation of State Medical Boards' directory. The website is fsmb.org. HOW CAN I REPORT ILLEGAL DRUG SALES? Contact your local police or submit a tip to the DEA through an online form at dea.gov/ops/submit.php. Or call a regional DEA office: there's a directory at dea.gov/domesticoffices.shtml.