By Iraj Shroff, Vyshal Sreenivas (Arizona, United States)

More than 11.5 million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids in 2016. Opioids are a class of drugs that derive from natural substances found in the opium poppy plant. Prescription opioids are prescribed by doctors to treat moderate to severe pain following surgery, injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. Common types are oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone. Smart Medicine Dispensing System(SMDS) is a novel, cost-efficient, tamper-resistant, sustainable, programmable, and user-friendly system that helps prevent overdose and medication non-adherence by dispensing the patient’s medicines at specific times.