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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 130 Americans are dying every day from opioid-related drug overdoses Although there appears to be no end in sight to this crisis, the National Association of REALTORS® believes that our members can help prevent prescription drug abuse by encouraging their home-selling clients to take simple precautions when preparing for an open house.
First and foremost, REALTORS® need to recognize where risks reside when they are staging open houses, and in many of our educational webinars and “safety tip” communications we stress to our members the necessity of putting away or locking-up these medications before open houses, and also the importance of diligently looking for any easily-accessible locations where prescription drugs might be located.
Although we encourage homeowners to altogether remove prescription drugs from the home prior to the open house, we believe it is key for REALTORS® to communicate with their clients about ways to secure any sensitive items before prospective buyers are invited into their home.
While the vast majority of open houses occur without incident, NAR recognizes the severity of this issue and we continue to stress the importance of REALTORS® remaining vigilant during open houses, for their own safety as well as the wellbeing of their clients and their communities.