News and Views

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FDA Remove the Risk Campaign for Health Care Professionals

Thursday, August 1, 2024 | Posted in GEHA Connection Dental Network News

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched “Remove the Risk” – an education and outreach campaign to raise awareness about the serious risks of keeping unused prescription opioids in the home and to provide information about safe disposal of these drugs.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that up to 71% of opioid tablets prescribed after surgery went unused.

As health care professionals, we not only have the privilege of serving our members and patients, but also the responsibility for guiding them toward healthy behaviors. Help your patients and their families stay safe! Encourage your patients to remove expired, unwanted or unused prescription pain medicines from their home as quickly as possible to help reduce the chance of accidental or intentional ingestion. Education about proper disposal of unused prescription opioids can save lives.  

Visit fda.gov/DrugDisposal (fda.gov/DeshacerseDeMedicamentos for Spanish version) to find “Remove the Risk” resources including videos, fact sheets and other helpful information. Use these with your patients to help educate and encourage consideration of the best disposal option for them.

You can follow updates from the campaign and join the conversation on social media using #RemoveOpioidRisk.