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Distribution of at-home drug disposal products reducing opioid misuse

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SANFORD, N.C. — Patient education, when combined with an at-home opioid disposal product, increases the likelihood that surgical patients will dispose of unused medications, thereby reducing opioids in communities. These are among the findings of an analysis published in the January issue of The Journal of Nursing Administration.

Beginning in 2020, CVS Pharmacy will offer a simple and safe drug disposal solution to aid in fight against opioid misuse.

The literature review was conducted by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) affiliated with Baptist Health Lexington and Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia and a nursing faculty member from the University of KentuckyCollege of Nursing. The research review found that when in-home medication disposal products, such as DisposeRx packets, are provided to patients receiving opioid medications at healthcare facilities, the rate of opioid disposal was as high as 71%.

“The abuse and diversion of leftover opioids following surgeries is a significant contributor to the opioid epidemic and a major concern for healthcare facilities,” said lead study author John Edwards, Baptist Health Lexington and Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. “Although patients may need opioids to help manage pain in the early days following a surgical procedure, we know that most prescriptions are not taken in full leaving unused medications that can pose a variety of risks. We believe safe and timely disposal of those medications is key to helping to fight epidemic.”

More than 60% of chain pharmacies and a growing number of hospitals provide—at no cost to the patient—at-home medication disposal products to accompany opioid prescriptions. When patients are provided a disposal product, a high percentage (82%) are likely to use the product when compared to some FDA-approved disposal methods.

“Eradicating the misuse of unused medications is the mission of DisposeRx, and we are pleased to see the growing body of research validating the use of our product and its effects on behavior change,” said William Simpson, DisposeRx president and chief executive officer. “The combination of patient education along with a disposal tool can have a powerful impact on prevention efforts.”

One of the studies in the analysis found a significantly lower rate of filled opioid prescriptions among participants who received an in-home opioid disposal product. The authors suggest that this finding may indicate that providing a drug disposal product to patients emphasizes the danger of opioid use. Further research is needed to understand patients’ plans to keep their opioids to inform the education and interventions that would drive proper disposal and decrease misuse and diversion.


ECRM_06-01-22


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