Open AccessSafe storage of methadone takeaway doses – a survey of patient practice
Author(s) -
Winstock Adam R.,
Lea Toby
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00137.x
Subject(s) - methadone , medicine , ingestion , environmental health , pharmacy , family medicine , emergency medicine , psychiatry
Objective:To determine current methadone takeaway storage practice among patients receiving supervised methadone treatment and takeaway doses at community pharmacies.Methods:A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2006 in Sydney, New South Wales. It addressed: safe storage of methadone takeaways; knowledge of risk of methadone ingestion by small children; and information provision from health care providers about the safe storage of methadone.Results:Eighty‐seven patients participated in the survey. The majority stored their methadone takeaways in a cupboard (48%) or secure cabinet (34%). All but one participant were aware of the risks of methadone ingestion by small children. Eighty‐seven per cent had discussed safe storage of takeaways with a health professional.Conclusions:Most patients receiving methadone takeaways store them safely and are aware of the risk that methadone ingestion poses to children.Implications:Clinicians should ensure patients are adequately informed about safe takeaway storage and the risk of methadone ingestion by children.