Stocking meds can be a double sword. Even diabetes meds (not only insulin but also metformin) can kill someone that confuses them. Just last week I learned from an elderly man that had confused his metformin with ...... (both bright blue colored). And had dutifully taken 2 ...... a day for months. He died from it as you can imagine, and his children that didn't live with him were in anguish about that. Unfortunately it's heart wrenching and extremely difficult to live with.My story has a very sad part. When I was sent to the pain management center, it was easy to see what I would turn into if I continued just from the waiting room. Grown people crying and claiming their dog ate their medicine and please please give me some more. There were signs all over "we do not care what your excuse is, do not ask for more" Scary.
Because I was in real pain and knew in about 10 years it would be worse, I talked myself into going to the clinic, getting my prescription, filling it at the pharmacy and then stock piling it for the day I really needed it. We are not talking about Tramadol, mild in comparison. I was getting 60-90 Oxycontin as month, with another 60 Vicodin for break through pain.
When my stash was more than 10-12 filled scripts I stopped and told the DR I was detoxing. He argued with me about why I should not. Scary again.
The sad part comes in here. I was not hiding them well. Under my sink in my own bathroom in a cosmetic bag or something. Once I stopped I had no reason to check on them or go into the bag. About a year later I discovered the bag was empty. This was at the same time had been fighting with my daughter about strange behavior and her seeming to be on drugs. She did not not live with me but had access to my home. I did not see her a lot, maybe 1-2 times a month. So yes folks, I supplied my daughter (unknowingly, but STILL) and she eventually turned to the H word. I spent 10 years trying to get her off. I could not do the tough love I was being taught in al-anon because there was that factor. I had caused it.
To make matters even worse, I get my slow release insulin in one time, once a year. Keeping that in the fridge is hard to keep an eye on. Yet, even if I don't use it, I check constantly. 60 units could kill someone. And I keep needles as far away as possible, to avoid anybody misusing them.
I feel for you, any addiction is hard to deal with, and you have the right to your meds. But keep them under lock, even if there's no one else in the house. All the time.