Keeping Meds Safe

I have a friend with chronic pain who is having trouble with a normally law-abiding upstanding citizen/spouse taking some of her prescribed meds.

She has tried a number of lockboxes and such but the spouse has always been able to break into them.

Do you guys have any preferred lockbox brands or some suggestions as to how to keep this from occurring?

Thanks so much.
Lynnwood

What about a false panel box? It's a lock box that has a lock/key and then a hidden panel that you can hide things in.

If the spouse is breaking into lock-boxes, that seems to me a situation hard to control and beyond just the theft of a few pills.

Hopefully, your friend is dealing with the relationships issues as well, but in the mean time, it seems like a mini-safe is in order. Amazon has quite a variety for around $50.

Examples:
www.amazon.com/Stack-On-PDS-500-Drawer-Safe-Electronic/dp/B002KEIU4W/
www.amazon.com/Electronic-Safe-Security-Duty-Paragon-Lock/dp/B003ZZOZI0

I have both a "Stack-On" (quick access) safe with my home-defense gun beside the bed and a large "Paragon" safe where other valuable are kept. I've had no problem with either brand.

You might also suggest to your friend to keep a record of all the pills in and out of the safe. Whenever I remove pills from the prescription bottle (to then put in a small container by my bed for example), I write it down. The safe itself may be enough, but the battle here, sadly, is also psychological/relationship.

The spouse is indeed seeking treatment, etc. Not really relationship issues, just drug-seeking behavior. Pill counts are monitored, but doesn't do anything to stop the behavior.

Unfortunately all the safes y'all have provided links to will open within a few minutes of hammering, etc.

Looks like there are several methods of classifying security...haven't found anything that looks feasible in about an hour of online searching. Less than $150-$200, can't be opened (ie no consumer reviews say so)... Looks like the handgun safes may be most likely to work.

Thanks.

I'd opt for a gun safe.  They are extremely sturdy and designed not to be easily broken into.

Morgan has a great idea about the false panel boxes, or even the "fake products" that hold contents inside, but look like something else on the outside.  I think hiding something in a tampon box would usually keep men out, or anything relating to feminine hygeine.  (Random thought).

But boxes that are fireproof, like many gun safes, offer added security and strength.  Nothing with a padlock.

Out of curiosity, if I may ask, what happens when she confronts her spouse about the missing pills?

M.

That's a great idea! My son has one that reads his fingerprints... Its an airsoft pistol but I make him lock it up and his friend's dad gave it to him.

Mine are in a safety deposit box at my bank simply because my son is a recovering IV drug user and I see no reason to tempt him. I also have a teen whose friends are in and out and 2 young granddaughters who spend a lot of time in my house and just 1 methadone is lethal to a child!

Better for my peace of mind and everyone's safety!

We are about to purchase a good, but small safe from Sam's Club, believe its $125 to $150. We have outgrown our lock box. It has a digital combination, so no keys to mess with. In my area, that's equal to about 2 years work of having a lock box at the local bank.

Aside from deeds, titles, passports, wills, and other important papers, will also use it store meds when needed, like if out of town, guests staying, etc.

David

A good heavy fireproof, combination safe is a good way to go. I have read several times that a combination safe is preferred over one that uses a key system. We had sort of the same problem here in our house, but was a 17yr old stepdaughter who was the culprit. I immediately bought a safe!

The small lock boxes can easily be broken into, and or carried away. I believe I got mine at Walmart, and it is very heavy.

Good luck!

SE

What sucks is that any of us have to even DO this!  That this is even a topic!

That we have people in our lives, people we are supposed to be able to, or at least want to, trust with our private and intimate details...

And here we are trying to figure out ways to "hide" legitimate prescription medication.....

I know it's a real problem, to be sure.  It just saddens me that it's a topic at all.

M.

nvrthesame98 said...
Actually Josh my daughter works next door to the bank and she's on the access card. I only dose once a day or once in 24 hrs.

She goes and gets like a few days worth and comes by for coffee every morning!

Its obviously not going to work for anyone on multiple daily doses unless you go once a week and get a weeks worth. I would however rather lose 1/4 of my meds then all of it if I was on multiple dosing?

When you have someone in your midst that can be trusted Nothing you can buy will keep them from getting to them if they want to bad enough?! Believe me there was a time with my son I tried it all.

In the end you and only you are going to be held responsible if something happened to or with your meds. States that right in my PM contract!!

While it is sad you have to go to those lengths...it is a great idea you have there.

And yep...my pm contract states the same...along with a rule that they will NOT give early refills.