opiate or narcotic) abuse.
When you depend on your medications to function, having them stolen can throw your life into turmoil.
It pays to know how to protect yourself and what to do if your meds are stolen.
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Who Steals Opioids?
When you think of your drugs being stolen, you may automatically picture being mugged by a violent stranger.
That certainly does happen, especially to people leaving the pharmacy.
However, you’re probably most likely to be victimized by someone in your life.
It could be a child or grandchild, or a friend.
Not only is the high a big incentive, but those pills are also valuable on the street.
In addition, pain can make people desperate.
Chronic pain often goes undertreated in this country.
This may provide an extra incentive for someone to take your pills.
A suicidal person may also steal drugs to make an attempt on their life.
No one wants to suspect the people around them.
You might think it couldn’t possibly happen to you.
Remember, though, that addiction is an insidious disease.
It can make good people do things they wouldn’t dream of otherwise.
Prevent Opioid Theft at Home
You have a lot of options for protecting yourself from drug theft.
At the very least, remove the label so no one can use the information to commit fraud.
Even better, put them in a container that keeps them hidden.
You don’t want to give anyone a reason to mug you or break into your house.
Some pharmacies will accept empty bottles for recycling, so check to see if yours does.
They don’t fit the stereotype of the shady street criminal who you’d probably never be around anyway.
If you carry painkillers with you, keep them in the original container.
As with all aspects of personal safety, it pays to be aware of your surroundings.
Is someone watching you too closely as you leave the pharmacy?
Who might be paying attention at the restaurant when you take a pill?
Where Not to Leave Pills
Several common places are high-risk when it comes to pill theft.
If Your Drugs Are Stolen
When your medication is stolen, it’s a big problem.
For you, it could mean going a few weeks without painkillers.
That might seem horrible to you, but it’s for good reason.
Talk to any healthcare provider who spends weekends on call.
Most of those people are drug seekers known by the police and medical community.
People in search of drugs do that too often.
That leaves legitimate pain patients who are the victims of theft with little or no recourse.
