TY - JOUR T1 - Prescription drug safe storage practices in Arizona tribal communities JF - Injury Prevention JO - Inj Prev DO - 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-043890 SP - injuryprev-2020-043890 AU - Andrea Tsatoke AU - Robert Morones AU - Isaac Ampadu AU - Martin Stephens Y1 - 2021/01/04 UR - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/04/injuryprev-2020-043890.abstract N2 - This paper provides an overview of an opioid poisoning prevention pilot project conducted in several American Indian/Alaskan Native communities using an applied public health approach. The intent of the project was to identify a prescription medication safeguarding option for use in the home environment. The authors engaged the target population to obtain their buy-in to select an intervention that was acceptable and appropriate for their needs. Focus groups and key informant interviews conducted in several tribal communities resulted in the selection of a heavy-duty, lockable storage box as the intervention. Through community-based partnerships, 55 boxes were installed in participating households. Along with the box, participants also received education on safe medication storage and disposal. At baseline, only 1% of the participants reported storing their medication securely. During a 60-day follow-up visit, 95% of the observed boxes were being used to store medications. Also at baseline, 31% of the participants reported a history of lost or stolen medications. There were no reported lost or stolen medications during the 60-day project period among the participants. During the follow-up visits, project staff also found the boxes being used to store other items valuable to the participants. Reportedly, having their medication and other valuables secured in one location provided a heightened feeling of security. Since the completion of this pilot project, several organisations and entities have replicated it in their communities. ER -