Safe Narcotic Dispensing and Less Government Restrictions: Prescriptions for controlled substances to be dispensed in a container with a locking lid designed for single pill access

Design Proposal for a Secure Pill Dispensing System

Overview

This proposal outlines the design of a secure lid for standard prescription pill bottles, intended to enhance safety and compliance in the dispensing of controlled substances. It also discusses the benefits of implementing such a system to establish checks and balances aimed at preventing narcotic abuse, theft, and illegal distribution. This device also helps to identify individuals with substance abuse issues early, enabling timely intervention in the disease of addiction.

Design Features

1.	Locking Lid Mechanism:
•	The lid will feature a rotating, magnetic locking system that can only be opened and closed with a specialized machine available exclusively to pharmacists.
    •     The locking lid will secure firmly to the plastic bottle, but in an emergency, it can be forcibly opened if necessary.

2.	Identification System:
•	Access to the dispensing mechanism will be secured by a thumbprint ID or other biometric identification methods, ensuring that only authorized individuals can dispense medication.
3.	Single Pill Dispensing:
•	The system will be designed to dispense only one pill at the prescribed time (or multiple if so prescribed), promoting adherence to prescribed dosages.
4.	Reusable Design:
•	Patients will return the container and lid to the pharmacy each month for refills. This allows pharmacists the opportunity to inspect the device for tampering and ensure its integrity. Allowing this system of checks and balance will help to ensure adherence to prescription. 

Accidental Damage Policy

•	To accommodate accidental breakage, the insurance policy will permit one replacement of the broken device per year without penalty.
    •     System malfunctions will not be considered penalties and pharmacy must provide replacement or be able to troubleshoot issue promptly. 
•	If a patient requires more than one replacement and are showing signs of tampering/misuse, they will forfeit their right to obtain the prescription until being re-evaluated by the prescribing physician.
    •    The physician will be informed of any multiple break-ins attempts before a reevaluation takes place.
    •    This system not only prevents the stimulation of addictive pathways but also serves as an early detection mechanism for individuals who misuse prescription narcotics, allowing for timely and effective intervention.

Physician Notification

•	The prescribing physician will be notified of any issues with the device prior to approving the next prescription fill. 

Conclusion
This innovative design aims to improve the safety and monitoring of prescription medications, ultimately contributing to a reduction in misuse and promoting responsible medication management. This innovative design also helps prevent the activation of addictive pathways in the brain by reducing stimulation to areas associated with addiction. By minimizing temptation—the initial trigger for the addiction cycle—this design encourages healthy use of narcotics and mitigates associated risks.

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That’s so simple yet such an effective solution! That is an absolute genius idea!

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This is a terrible idea, one wrong move and your pills could be destroyed and there goes your prescription, your co-pay and then you’re screwed. Think about the people with arthritis trying to do something with that bottle. To only get one replacement on how many defective bottles there could be, bad idea. We are villainized enough, then have to suffer if the bottles are defective.

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Despite the obvious necessity of an emergency access option, it kind of undermines the entire idea.

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The pills will remain intact unless deliberately destroyed by the user, and the system will not penalize you for a malfunctioning device. Action will only be taken in cases of clear tampering or forced entry, indicating potential abuse. Additionally, this plan does not permanently revoke access to your prescription. If a patient shows signs of abuse, the prescriber will be notified and will meet with the patient to assess the need for the medication. If the provider determines there is no risk, they can authorize a refill.

This approach establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure safe prescribing while minimizing the risk of triggering addictive behaviors. Furthermore, this system is specifically designed for controlled substances (such as Percocet, Adderall, and Xanax) and does not apply to medications like blood pressure drugs or anticoagulants.

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The goal is to prevent the activation of addiction-related neural pathways, which begin with temptation. Consider this, your grandma doesn’t go into the hospital for a hip replacement and leave addicted to fentanyl or Dilaudid, largely because she doesn’t have access to take the addictive medicine as she pleases; medications are administered by healthcare staff under strict controls. This system I’m proposing functions similarly by minimizing temptation through restricted access.

While I’m not suggesting there’s an emergency release button (because again…temptation) similar devices are already in use, but they’re expensive and impenetrable. By being impenetrable the cons of these devices is that patients don’t have the ability to access their medication which could potentially save their life. By using durable plastic for these devices, we can keep costs down while ensuring that, in a genuine medical emergency, access to medication remains possible.

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Cool idea. :+1:

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More people die from medical errors. I’m tired of people dying because they can not access the life saving opioids that give them a quality of life, reduce their isolation, gives some the ability to work, and actually live. Our bodies, our choice! People are dying FROM PAIN that were stable for years in opioids that were stripped away by dictators. All while overdoses increase because it was never about RX opioids but illicit did like fentanyl, meth, etc… Opioids RXs were reduced by 60% way back in 2016 so much so the people with legitimate needs can no longer access and are degraded and treated as criminals for being sick, diseased and diseased. NO MORE! My husband with cancer almost died from chronic heart stress from pain. My mom in her 80s in end stage heart failure wanted to delete herself because of how she was treated trying to get pain relief. So many have deleted themselves because they no longer have a quality of life, they can’t work, they’re bed ridden, they can’t visit family, drive or LIVE because they are in constant 24/7 pain.
Stop forcing your will on others. OUR LIVES. OUR BODIES. OUR CHOICE! Are we a free people, or not? Government stripped away all natural remedies our ancestors used and banned them from our culture. No natural cannabis, poppy, fungi, or ANY natural medecines should be denied to the people of this nation. How can you call this a diverse nation when you force your will upon others. The Doctor Patient Forum on Facebook, TikTok and more there’s two women Claudia and Bev that have evidence of the opioid propaganda and facts that prove this was a government media propaganda move to force everyone from stable and cheap, effective opioids onto methadone and suboxone as they’re highly invested in every aspect of the forced transition. Billions changed hands. Witnesses and “experts” were handsomely paid for testimony during and after cases. Many of which were over turned. Less than 5% of chronic pain patients become addicted. Now it’s around .5%. Yet your fear from all of the propaganda has you fighting to contour hurting and deleting tens of millions who are already suffering in horrific pain 24/7.
I’m one of those people. My back was destroyed being a live in family care giver 24/7 for several family members. Lifting them by myself to clean and change them. But insurance doesn’t want to cover the needed 7.5hr surgery that 4 separate physicians verified was needed. I’ve fought 3+ years and spent it entire savings having to run the insurance required gauntlet to fail at every conservative method before they would consider paying for my surgery. The Friday before the surgery scheduled that Monday they denied it saying 1. It took me 13 months instead of 12 to complete all of their requirements and 2. I smoked cigarettes. So they leave you in 24/7 pain that even lifting the coffee pot shoots nerve pain that stalls your breath and buckles you. But you can’t get disability because your considered “curable” if you get surgery. Even though you pay for employee insurance monthly, the 7,500k deductible, the 80 a pop specialist office copay, the gauntlet of office visits, PT, topicals, orals, patches, shots and more you are forced to try and fail at costing 20-30k out of pocket just to get to where the insurance SAYS they’ll pay… they won’t. And you’re now left just about bed ridden. Can’t even walk one end of Walmart to the other. Can’t pick up your new grandson, can’t drive more than 20 minutes without excruciating pain I am denied opioids. Because of people like you. I’m denied natural medecines because of people like you that live in fear and want to dictate what others can and cannot put into their own bodies. All while assisted deleting is being introduced around the world for anyone suffering from physical and now mental disabilities. Yes, even for treatment resistant depression. It was never about saving lives. It was federal money laundering under dictatorship. We are either a free people or we are not. My taking opioids for my chronic pain has zero to do with you. The only reason i am alive and have not deleted myself from this insane chronic suffering is because i still feel the need to care for my husband and i don’t want to hurt my 4 adult children or 7 grandchildren. One day I may not make it through the pain. Hell, we may starve and be homeless before then since I physically can’t work to support us anymore and we have run out of assets to sell after the depletion of our savings to the tune of trends of thousands trying to get surgical approval to simply have the physical ability to live. I went from an active mountain climbing, kayaking, self sufficient outdoors woman to an invalid at only 45. I HAD DREAMS! I still have dreams that I can not even think about because it’s too depressing knowing I can not get the surgery or even pain relief to live or those dreams. I had started 2 businesses that i had to fold. I wanted to travel. ALL gone while i have to sit on memory foam every 20 minutes for at least 20-30 minutes before i can even putter around the house not lifting anything heavier than 2lbs. That is not saving lives. This anti-opioid rhetoric has destroyed so many lives. Tends of MILLIONS are suffering today and thinking of deleting themselves. They’re crying in bed like my mama was. Imagine listening to your mom cry all night and having that be the last memories until she couldn’t cry anymore. She had some quality of life and could shufflec to the kitchen or living room to enjoy family time until she was stripped of her pain medication that worked for her and forced to “try” all of the other required by North Carolina state leaving her bedridden, suffering and having zero quality of life. I had to watch her go from somewhat mobile to immobile. All the promises that those who truly need it will get it is a lie. Not only a lie but they’re treated like criminals with pill counts, urine tests, contracts and accusations. For what? For having Chondrosarcoma, small cell lung cancer, stage 3 kidney disease, stage 4 heart disease, back injuries requiring 2 or more surgical interventions, fusions, and more. Even in ICU just a few hours post op from having 4 ribs and a large tumor removed my husband’s blood pressure was skyrocketing as they took him off pain meds and wanted to give him only Tylenol. IN ICU! His BP kept getting higher and higher, he was moaning and sweating but they cared not and gave me a lecture about opioids at wake first Baptist in North Carolina. I demanded he be transferred back to the cancer center immediately. They had to comply to at least that and wouldn’t you know the cancer center card enough to treat him with pain meds in that part of the hospital and his BP started coming down to normal, his moaning stopped and he was no longer sweating. Had I not been there he would have died and the hospital would just say, “complications from surgery” as they continue to use patients as guinea plus to see how far they can lower pain management to complete new studies for more funding and awards from the state and feds. Money is all anyone cares about, not saving lives. More people die from medical errors, heart disease, cancer and more. Medical errors alone cause between 250,000- 450,000 deaths annually. Being denied the ability the utilize freely natural medecines used for hundreds of years successfully while also being denied Western medecine leaves tens of millions suffering horrifically, dying or wanting to. You’re destroying lives and family’s while claiming to save lives. That is not the truth. We live the truth every day. DEregulation is needed. Freedom is needed. Individual liberty is needed. The right to persue not just happiness but also relief is needed, YESTERDAY! Did you even know the initial cdc recommendations were purposefully based on combined numbers of illicit drugs and added to anyone with an RX in their system upon death or if that person had a prior script even if tests showed that RX not in their system upon OD? They admitted it 2 years after their initial recommendations. It has always been about the illicit fentanyl, meth, etc… causing the ODs. The “opioid crisis” was manufactured for government money laundering and all the money Pfizer had to pay was rewarded ten fold after regulations were implemented forcing patients off opioids. The grants and funding Pfizer and all witnesses received was and is disgusting and an abuse of power. Go to The Doctor Patient Forum and ask Claudia and Bev for the evidence. Ignore the PROP minions trying to demonize the ladies at The DPF. PROP is worried their money will dry up if found out, so they try to make Claudia and Bev look illegitimate. Except there’s receipts. The evidence is there but with the massive monies changing hands no one with authority will listen. Just as the covid propaganda and vaccine propaganda was sent in a federal media blitz, so too was the “opioid crisis” that was and remains NOT an RX crisis but an illicit fentanyl and meth crisis.
Leave the chronic pain sufferers alone! We want our freedom and liberty back. We want our lives back.
Remove the federal regulations of natural medecines.
My body, my choice!

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I want to start by acknowledging the pain and frustration you’ve endured. Your story illustrates the immense suffering that comes with chronic pain, and no one should have to face those challenges without the proper care and relief they need. I understand how vital opioids and other narcotics can be for people in your situation, and I truly empathize with the struggle to obtain the treatment you deserve.

My perspective on this issue focuses on reducing government restrictions while simultaneously introducing measures that ensure controlled substances, including opioids, are used responsibly. The current regulatory system has become so restrictive that it makes it harder for doctors to prescribe medications to those who truly need them, often causing unnecessary suffering. The goal should be to reduce these overreaching government regulations so that doctors can prescribe medications more freely, ensuring that patients can access the care they need without fear of legal consequences or undue delays.

At the same time, it’s crucial that we implement safeguards to make sure prescriptions are used responsibly. This could include systems to track usage, ensure proper dosing, and prevent misuse. It’s about finding the balance—making sure that people who are suffering can access the medications that will improve their quality of life, while also minimizing the risks of misuse and abuse.

Ultimately, we need a healthcare system where doctors are empowered to prescribe based on the individual needs of their patients, free from excessive government interference. By reducing these restrictions and adding responsible safety measures, we can ensure that people with legitimate ailments are not only able to access treatment but do so in a way that is safe and effective for everyone.

This is a not a good idea. Pain patients are already having to sign their lives away because of all the stigma on getting prescription Hydrocodone. One wrong move and now you’re on a watch list. Please don’t ever allow this to happen. So if you take your medicine a half hour earlier than needed because you’re taking it before bed, now you can’t? No. this is not a good idea and serves no purpose except to give them more control over you. My husband takes his medicine as prescribed and has no dependency issues and this would only make him feel worse than he already does when having to get his medicine.

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The proposal for locked, single-dose pill bottles for prescription narcotics isn’t about increasing control or putting patients on a “watch list.” Rather, it’s a preventive measure designed to reduce misuse, diversion, and overdose while ensuring that patients take their medications safely and responsibly.

By dispensing medications in individual doses, it becomes harder for patients to accidentally misuse or overuse their prescriptions, reducing the risk of addiction or overdose. While the system would not prevent patients from taking their meds at a different time (like before bed), it would prevent taking more than prescribed, minimizing both intentional abuse and unintentional harm.

The goal is not to stigmatize patients but to create a safer prescribing environment that protects everyone, especially given the opioid crisis. Secure, single-dose dispensing systems would help reduce the chances of diversion and theft, while fostering trust between healthcare providers and patients. They would also empower patients to manage their treatment with confidence, knowing their medication is dispensed safely and in the right amount.

Ultimately, this approach would make it easier for healthcare providers to prescribe pain medications responsibly and for patients to access their necessary treatment without fear of misuse or stigma.

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Sounds like someone is trying to market something here :woozy_face:

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No one is misusing their prescription drugs. This reinforces the stigma placed on pain patients, and it’s absolutely ridiculous. People aren’t dying from taking their prescribed hydrocodone; they’re dying from fentanyl and street drugs. The more restrictions on prescription drugs, the harder it becomes for people to get what they need to manage pain, which WILL push some toward illegal options. We don’t need more restrictions. We need for the DEA to stop treating pain patients like criminals.

My husband has to go to the doctor every two months to get his medicine refilled. He has to take a drug test every two months, sign paperwork, wait exactly 30 days before refilling, and can’t refill a day early if he needs to travel for work. He can’t even consider using THC to help with pain because that would cancel his prescription. If he’s out of town, he can’t use a different pharmacy without it flagging his record. When he had a tooth implant with a bone graft, he couldn’t get extra medicine because he’s already prescribed three pills a day. He can’t even consider taking an extra pill during such times because he might be called in for a prescription count. Every doctor’s visit — six times a year — he has to undergo various tests to prove he isn’t abusing his medication, and then they rate his responses. Then he has to hope that the pharmacy actually has his medicine because of the shortages put into place by the DEA. When he goes to the pharmacy, he has to show his ID, and deal with the stigma, all because he has rheumatoid arthritis and has undergone four back surgeries and needs medicine to get through his day.

Stop the stigma. Pain patients are suffering and dying, and it’s not because they’re taking a prescribed Vicodin. They don’t need more restrictions.

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As I mentioned earlier, I’m advocating for fewer restrictions from the DEA, FDA, and federal government. It’s absurd that patients have to jump through so many hoops, as you outlined, just to get the medication they need, and yet they still face stigma. The solution should focus on the relationship between the patient, doctor, and pharmacist, without heavy government interference. I also disagree with your point that patients aren’t abusing these medications. Unfortunately, abuse is happening—some patients misuse the drugs themselves, while others sell their prescriptions to others. While you and your husband may not face these issues, many others do.

Conclusion, less government restrictions while achieving safer dispensing.

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I disagree with this approach. My husband doesn’t need a bottle or a doctor to tell him he has to wait 15 more minutes before he can take his medicine. This is absurd. His prescription clearly states “take as needed,” with a limit on daily use—not to follow an exact schedule. Under this idea, he couldn’t take his medication when he needs it; if he’s supposed to take it every six hours and wants to go to bed before the next dose, he’d have to stay up to take it “on time.”

I understand the reasoning behind this suggestion and that it comes from a place of caution, but it won’t help those who aren’t misusing their medications. It might prevent abuse in a small number of cases, but most patients are not abusing their prescriptions. It’s like punishing the entire class because of one person’s actions. I hope this approach is never implemented, and that those in need don’t have to fight to get the medication they rely on just because they have a chronic condition.

The treatment of pain patients has become terrible, and they’re being unfairly labeled as criminals. Do people realize how many doctors refuse to prescribe pain medications now? A close friend of mine has cancer, and her doctor won’t give her anything because they’re so afraid to prescribe it. It’s absolutely insane.

The stigma surrounding opioid use is misguided and deeply harmful. By assuming all opioid use leads to addiction or misuse, we punish legitimate pain patients who rely on these medications to function daily. This stigma isolates those in need, restricts access to essential treatment, and pushes some patients to desperate measures to manage their pain. Instead of blanket judgment, we need to approach this issue with understanding and empathy, recognizing that responsible patients should not suffer because of others’ misuse.

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Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. I understand and respect your concerns, and I agree that your husband’s case highlights the need for a more tailored approach for patients with a history of responsible use. One potential solution could be a system that allows such patients to access their daily medication as needed, rather than being restricted to one-pill access within specific time windows. Of course, this system would need to be refined to ensure it works well for everyone, but I believe it could strike a balance between patient autonomy and preventing misuse.

I’ve seen firsthand how a seemingly responsible use of medication can gradually escalate. Many individuals start out managing their prescriptions well, but over time, the compulsion to take extra doses can build, running out of your prescription days to weeks early, withdrawal symptoms, or even turning to illicit substances. The consequences of this cycle can be devastating, and I think it’s important that we acknowledge this broader issue, even as we strive to protect responsible patients like your husband.

I want to emphasize that this approach is not about punishing those who are using their medication properly, but rather about addressing a very real and growing problem in society. I respect your perspective and truly value the discussion, and I still believe that a well-designed system could help improve public health and safety while also accommodating patients who need their medication responsibly. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts.

No thank you. Another stupid and invasive idea.

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Do u really think this will stop abuse or diversion by putting lock lids on bottle s smh …no it won’t people will find another way around it …and innocent people can lose their meds from my error…nah I think this is a bad idea …right now people like my self are jumping through hoops every month to keep and get our meds.im on palliative care and I have to due urine test every month pill counts and pharmacy pill counts …that’s enough oh did I mention I’m bed ridden with no legs

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Pain patients are already villainized enough. Imagine what would happen if the lids failed and we lost the pills? It only takes 1 time of lost pills to be dropped by your doctor. No way!!

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Please read the post in its entirety and read over comments and responses. Your concerns are valid and have been addressed above. Thanks.