a method and apparatus for providing patient - controlled medication delivery is presented . the apparatus includes a medication storage subsystem , an interval timer , a patient verification system coupled to the medication storage subsystem , and a delivery subsystem which delivers one of the prescribed amounts of medication if the interval timer has reached an end of a predetermined time interval and the patient verification system verifies an identity of the patient . the method for providing patient - controlled medication delivery includes verifying an identification of an intended patient and providing a first prescribed amount of a medication for the intended patient , wherein the intended patient determines a time to start taking the prescribed amount of the medication . the method further includes waiting a predetermined time interval , again verifying the identification of the intended patient and providing another prescribed amount of the medication for the intended patient .