For some, timer caps could be a useful tool in the opioid fight

The reasons for the opioId crisis are complex and the fix is just as complicated.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The reasons for the opioId crisis are complex and the fix is just as complicated.

Nearly every facet of society plays a role.

Now some businesses are now stepping up safety measures to try to save lives.

You may have heard of them: timer caps for pill bottles.

The clock is on the lid and documents to the second the last time you accessed your pills. It was originally created to help make sure people took their medicine.

It's now being marketed in a whole new way and can play a role in curbing the opioid epidemic.

"We've seen an enourmous response for additional safety for prescription opioids," said Larry Twersky of Timer Cap. "It's sad that if you look at the top of an opioid cap it is created in 1970 to keep kids 5 and under out. That's 47 years ago. Can you imagine driving a car 40 years old with a child seat and expect to be as safe as possible? While opioids have gotten almost 100 times stronger, we have not done anything to strengthen packaging and how they are dispensed. There is not good reason why 5 percent of the population which is the US is consuming 84 percent of all opioids used in the world. That doesn't make since to me either."

We asked if the timer cap packaging worked. It hasn't been studied. It does get to the source of drugs. 52 percent of all opioid and heroin addictions starts in somebody's medicine cabinet, according to Twersky.

So could the investment of 10 to 14 dollars play a role?

"As far as a deterrent, there is nothing out yet to say it is or isn't as far as that goes but I can tell you, if someone wants to get in any of these products you can still get into these bottles. I am skeptical at this point," said Gregory Fox, an American Pharmacy Association spokesman.

Fox doesn't mind the lid but doesn't like the idea of any prescription being moved out of the bottle its dispensed in.

Still, it could provide an early indication if someone is sneaking your meds.

"Is this a solution for somebody who is already addicted, absolutely not," said Twersky. "Opioid addiction is an a complicated issue and if someone has an addiction or addicted people in their house, this is some tool but should still be locked up. It does provide a level of safety to protect and deter others from opening it.

It's sold at CVS and Rite Aid now and you can also buy it online.

We also found drug prevention coalitions across the country are buying it and handing them out as part of their prevention and education message.