Safe storage of methadone takeaway doses - a survey of patient practice.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should ensure patients are adequately informed about safe takeaway storage and the risk of methadone ingestion by children.
Winstock
Adam R
AR
Drug Health Services, Sydney South West Area Health Service, Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia. adam.winstock@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Lea
Toby
T
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004356:Drug Storage; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D009517:New South Wales; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010594:Pharmacies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008691:Methadone