Affinia Healthcare is providing a safer way to dispose of unused prescription medication at home.
The St. Louis-based health care provider is offering more than 200 free Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal System pouches. Kenyatta Johnson, the pharmacy director at Affinia Healthcare, said the need follows an upward trend of drug overdoses in the region.
鈥淎s we have seen, there鈥檚 been an increase and especially the number of opioid overdoses in the last couple of years,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪o, with the introduction of the Deterra Drug Deactivation pouches, it鈥檚 giving people the opportunity to be able to dispose of drugs safely.鈥�
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 107,622 drug overdose deaths across the country in 2021. That鈥檚 a 15% increase from 2020. Johnson said oftentimes unused prescription drug medication gets into the wrong hands, including young children and pets.
鈥淚f they鈥檙e not sure what they鈥檙e taking or how to use them, an overdose could happen because they鈥檙e not familiar with the medication,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭he medication was not prescribed for them and then they鈥檙e not sure how to take it, what they鈥檙e taking or how it would affect them. And so it鈥檚 affecting them in a way that overdoses are happening.鈥�
The pouch is designed to dispose of all kinds of unused prescription medications including pills, liquid and creams. Each pouch contains an organic activated carbon to deactivate the drugs. Once the contents of the pouch come into contact with water, the magic happens.
鈥淟et it sit for about 30 seconds,鈥� Johnsons said. 鈥淵ou may see some foaming and that鈥檚 OK. That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 supposed to do. At that time, after about 30 seconds you would close the pouch, gently shake it, and then you would be able to dispose of it in the normal trash.鈥�
The free pouches are available at Affinia鈥檚 pharmacies at 1717 Biddle St. and 2220 Lemp Ave.
