Prevention and Drug Safety
Medications can help when used correctly – but can also cause harm when misused or taken when not needed.
On this page, you can:
- Read about pain management and New York State's laws to ensure people take medications safely;
- Learn how the New York State Department of Health regulates prescribing to prevent medication misuse and keep communities safe;
- Connect to the New York State Drug Take Back Program where you can dispose of unused medications;
- Learn how the New York State Department of Health raises public awareness about drug use and overdose prevention.
Pain Management
Pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit a health care provider. Pain can cause significant limitations in daily life, leading people with pain to seek treatment. There are many forms of treatment, such as acupuncture, physical or occupational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, nonopioid medications, and nonclinical activities like exercise. In some cases, controlled medications such as opioids are needed. Use of these medications may come with additional risks such as dependence, overdose, and opioid use disorder when used for a long time.
Laws limit the opioids and other controlled substances that can be prescribed, helping people take those medications safely. They also require that medications like naloxone be prescribed with opioids to reverse an overdose if necessary. When treating certain kinds of pain, providers must consider non-addictive alternative treatments, like those mentioned above, before prescribing opioids. These laws work together to limit the risks that come with using opioid medications.
Read more about New York State controlled substance prescription laws. For additional resources on pain management, please see Opioid Management.
Regulating Prescription Medications
The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement is a unit within the New York State Department of Health that safeguards the legitimate use of controlled substances in health care. The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement:
- Enforces the laws that regulate prescribed controlled substances;
- Issues controlled substance licenses to manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, residential health care facilities, teaching institutions, Emergency Medical Services agencies, and researchers
- Maintains the Prescription Monitoring Program, which doctors and pharmacists use to make clinical decisions.
- Provides secure, official New York State Prescriptions to prescribers, oversees the electronic prescribing of controlled substances,
- Provides mandatory opioid prescriber education, and;
- Facilitates the safe disposal of medications through the statewide Drug Take Back Program.
More information about the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
Medication Disposal
Do you have extra or expired medications you are trying to get rid of?
Drug take-back programs help keep families and communities safe by offering convenient ways to safely dispose of extra or expired medications. Safe medication disposal prevents misuse, accidental ingestion, and protects the environment.
The New York State Drug Take Back program offers two ways to get rid of unwanted medications. You can place them in a secure drug take back collection kiosk, or you can mail them away for destruction. Drug take back collection kiosks are found in many pharmacies across the state—just drop the medication in the kiosk. Mail-back supplies can be ordered free of charge and are shipped directly to your home. Simply place your unwanted medications in the package, seal it up, and drop it in the nearest mailbox – postage free.
To find a drug take back collection kiosk, or to order drug mail-back supplies, visit the NYS Drug Take Back website, or call (844) 4-TAKE-BACK or (844) 482-5322.
Raising Public Awareness
The New York State Department of Health raises awareness about overdose prevention through various events. At the Great New York State Fair, New York State Department of Health staff provide overdose prevention education, free resources, and naloxone training for thousands of people attending the fair. The New York State Department of Health hosts an annual virtual Overdose Awareness Day event to bring together survivors, families, and service providers to share stories, highlight statewide efforts, and reaffirm our commitment to saving lives. Every year on August 31, New York State monuments and landmarks are lit purple to remember the lives lost to overdose and to show support for individuals, families, and communities affected by the overdose epidemic.
Safety Information for Kratom Products
Kratom is sold mainly in smoke shops and online, although it is also available through mainstream shops. FDA's safety concerns include liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder. Medication for opioid use disorder can relieve dependence and withdrawal.
- More information about Safety Information for Kratom Products
