Community-based medication disposal pilot initiative in southwest tribal communities

Injury Epidemiology

Lacie Ampadu¹  Andrea Tsatoke²  David Bales³  Robert Morones⁴  Martin Stephens⁵  William C. Crump⁶  Isaac Ampadu⁷ 

[1] 3685 E. Perkinsville Street, 85295, Gilbert, AZ, USA;IHS - Eastern Arizona District Office, 5448 S. White Mountain Blvd., Suite 220, 85929, Lakeside, AZ, USA;IHS - Oklahoma Area Office, 701 Market Dr, 73114, Oklahoma City, OK, USA;IHS - Phoenix Area Office, 40 North Central Avenue, Suite 600, 85004, Phoenix, AZ, USA;IHS - Reno District Office, 1150 Financial Blvd. Suite 500, 89502, Reno, NV, USA;IHS - Rhinelander District Office, 9a South Brown St, 54501, Rhinelander, WI, USA;IHS - Western Arizona District Office, 1553 West Todd Drive, Suite 104, 85283, Tempe, AZ, USA;

关键词: Behavior change;    Interventions;    Public health;    Poisoning;    Medication disposal;    Community;    Opioids;    Tribal;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40621-021-00360-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMisuse and abuse of prescription drugs including opioids has been a driving force behind the drug overdose epidemic plaguing communities across the USA for more than two decades. Medication accumulation in the home environment can contribute to this issue. However, research on proper disposal in rural communities is limited. For this project, an applied public health approach was used to raise awareness and improve prescription drug disposal practices by pilot testing prescription drug disposal systems in participating communities.MethodsA community-based disposal project was facilitated with assistance from community partners. The project centered on distribution of drug deactivation bags in homes and medication drop boxes at multiple healthcare facilities.ResultsThe team distributed 215 drug deactivation bags to 162 community households resulting in destruction of 8011 pills, 8 medicated dermal patches and 777 mL of liquid medication. A total of 4684 pounds of medication were collected and disposed of through healthcare facility drop boxes.ConclusionThe strategies identified are scalable and easy to replicate to meet any community's needs in reducing potential challenges of medication diversion.

【 授权许可】

CC BY