About Us
Medication Safety Program
Very often unused prescription medications find their way into the wrong hands. Prevent substance misuse before it starts by practicing safe use, safe storage, and safe disposal. This medication safety project is funded by a SAMHSA grant T108178 and created in collaboration with the WNY Prevention Resource Center and the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports, OASAS.
Take Action to Prevent Additction
LEARN HOW TO REDUCE RISK.
Opioids for Acute Pain
What You Need to Know
TYPES OF PAIN
Acute pain usually occurs suddenly and has a known cause, like an injury, surgery, or infection. You may have experienced acute pain, for example, from a wisdom tooth extraction, an outpatient medical procedure, or a broken arm after a car crash. Acute pain normally resolves as your body heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last weeks or months—past the normal time of healing.
PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS
Prescription opioids (like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine) are one of the many options for treating severe acute pain. While these medications can reduce pain during short-term use, they come with serious risks including addiction and death from an overdose when taken for longer periods of time or at high doses.
Acute pain can be managed without opioids
Ask your doctor about ways to relieve your pain that do not involve prescription opioids. These treatments may actually
work better and have fewer risks and side effects. Ask your doctor about your options and what level of pain relief and improvement you can expect for your acute pain.
