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

Winstock AR, Lea T

Drug Health Services, Sydney South West Area Health Service, New South Wales, and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

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.

Published 17 December 2007 in Aust N Z J Public Health, 31(6): 526-8.
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