In October 2017 the opioid crisis was declared a “public health emergency.” In the US, more than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs and in 2016, some 56,000 people died as a result of prescription drug overdose. As much as 1/3 of all prescription opioid medications go unused and are often sitting, unsecured, in kitchen and medicine cabinets. This opens the door for these medications to be used by people other than to whom they were prescribed.
On the other hand, we are told not to throw unused medications in the trash or flush them down the toilet. There are drug take back events at the local and national level. However, those are scheduled sporadically and not always available in all geographic areas. In some communities, police stations have a drop box for unused medications. Safe and easy disposal options for unused opioids are essential in helping to curb misuse and accidental overdose. One company has come up with an alternative, with the hope of making it easier to dispose of unused medications.
DisposeRx™ has created a product that is mixed with some water and your unused medications, rendering them unusable and safe to dispose of in your household trash.
How does it work?
DisposeRx™ is a powder. When mixed with water and shaken, the contents of your prescription bottle solidify and can be disposed in your household trash! This is a patent-pending mechanism that “uses non-toxic polymers to permanently physically and chemically…make powders, pills, tablets, capsules, liquids and patches inert and unavailable to illicit use.”
It also keeps opioids from entering our water supply when flushed down the toilet.
Where can I get DisposeRx™?
Currently, DisposeRx™ is available, free of charge at all Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies. Also, any patient filling any new Class II opioid prescription (drugs like morphine, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, fentanyl, and methadone) at a Walmart pharmacy will receive Dispose RX™ with their prescription.
But…
DisposeRX™ is still being tested for safe usage in Rhode Island and Washington state. So, patients in these states will be provided an alternative, free disposal option when filling prescriptions at Walmart or Sam’s Club.
Make a point to plan for safe disposal of opioid pain medications. You can help combat the opioid crisis and make your homes safer for family and friends.