Some People Taking Pain Medicine Prescribed to Pets

The Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association is warning its members that some people are taking pain medicine prescribed to pets, according to The Boston Globe.

The group is working with law enforcement to educate its members about opioid abuse. “The misuse of pet medication has serious safety implications — for people and animals,” said Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, in a letter to members of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association. “Educating people about the signs of drug misuse, available treatment resources and how to properly store and dispose of all medications is a crucial part of helping to stem the tide of overdoses and death.”

Ryan said she learned about the problem when she met a woman whose pet was still in pain despite having been prescribed pain medicine. The woman found out a family member had been taking her pet’s pain pills. “It suddenly became clear why the pet had not been getting better,” Ryan wrote.