TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Safe storage of methadone takeaway doses - a survey of patient practice
JO  - Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
A1  - Winstock, Adam R.
A1  - Lea, Toby
SP  - 526
EP  - 528
VL  - 31
IS  - 6
N2  - 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p> 
LA  - en
SN  - 1326-0200
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00137.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -