AMA offers guidance to physicians on safe storage, disposal of opioids

The American Medical Association (AMA) Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse released today new recommendations for physicians to promote safe use, storage, and disposal of prescription opioids. These new recommendations are part of the Task Force’s ongoing efforts to empower and enable physicians to take steps that can help reverse the nation’s opioid epidemic.

“These new recommendations can further reduce the amount of unwanted, unused and expired medications — making their diversion to nonmedical use much less likely,” said Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees and chair of the Task Force. “By taking these important steps, physicians can communicate common-sense approaches to their patients that can directly reduce the potential for harm.”