Your Health Matters.
Your Safety Matters.
YOU MATTER.
Did you know that drug overdose deaths have been the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States since 2013?1
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 70% of the more than 67,000 drug overdose deaths in 2018 involved an opioid.2 But medication safety is about more than just opioid medications – it is for all medications.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency – PLEASE CALL 911
At VG’s Grocery, we want you to have the information you need to effectively use, safely store, and properly dispose of unnecessary medications. The resources below are intended to guide you to important safety information from some our nation’s leading safety experts. It does not, however, serve to replace professional medical advice.
Where and how do I dispose of unused medications?
If you have questions about what to do with your unwanted, unused, or expired medications – please follow the link to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) webpage.
Where can I find more information about patient safety for myself and those I love?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Patient Safety page has several topics that may be of interest to you. From proper antibiotic use and vaccination safety to topics like safe medication storage.
What is an Opioid?
Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain. Prescription Opioids are Opioids prescribed to help reduce moderate to severe pain. Even though these are prescribed by your healthcare professional, they may carry serious risks like opioid dependence, addiction, and even accidental overdose and death.
What is an Opioid overdose?
Opioid use can cause dangerous reactions such as slowed or stopped breathing. An opioid overdose occurs when your body cannot process your Opioid intake.
How do I use naloxone?
How to administer Intramuscular Naloxone – 2:56
How to administer the Naloxone auto-injector – 2:57
How to administer Narcan nasal spray – 7:56
I need Naloxone. What do I do next?
Talk to your VG’s Grocery pharmacist today to see what options are available in your area.
- Olaisen RH, Rossen LM, Warner M, Anderson RN. Unintentional injury death rates in rural and urban areas: United States, 1999–2017. NCHS Data Brief, no 343. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019.
- Wilson N, Kariisa M, Seth P, et al. Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths—United States, 2017-2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:290-297.