As part of efforts to combat the opioid crisis, Campbell County and Kenton County pharmacies are working with a local coalition to increase safe medication disposal as part of a research project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) has supported the installation of medication disposal drop boxes in four local pharmacies to address the challenge of leftover prescription opioids leading to accidental poisonings and overdose.


“Proper opioid disposal can save the life of your loved ones. With so many dispensed prescriptions going unused, there is a large potential that those could be misused. By disposing of your unused prescriptions in an available receptacle at a local pharmacy or police station, you can avoid the possibility of someone you love accidentally or inappropriately taking these medications. By doing so, you can prevent an overdose or long- term addiction to opioids.” -Dr. Emma Sapp, Pharmacist and Campbell County coalition member


Studies have shown that up to 71 percent of opioid tablets prescribed for pain relief after surgery are not needed and often remain in the home. These medications — drugs like hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone — are especially dangerous due to the risk of misuse, overdose, and death. About half of people who misuse prescription opioids get them from a friend or family member, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Additionally, accidental exposure to medicine in the home is a major source of poisoning emergencies among children.


The goals of the HCS disposal program are for residents to make safe medication disposal a habit and to reduce the number of prescription opioids available in the community. “Unused opioid prescriptions can be a safety hazard to small children who can be seriously harmed by accidental ingestion,” said Dr. James Schack, a local primary care physician and HCS coalition member. “Safely disposing these medications is as easy as stopping by a pharmacy with a disposal bin.”


HCS funds the installation and initial maintenance of the drop boxes, which are recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for disposal of most unused prescription and over-the-counter medicine and helps pharmacies raise awareness of the importance of safe disposal within their communities.


“The cost of a disposal drop box is often the largest obstacle for community pharmacies,” said HCS faculty member, Dr. Trish Freeman. “We are helping pharmacies that want to be involved in overcoming barriers so they can provide this important service.”
The HCS has provided the drop boxes to 57 community pharmacies in 16 Kentucky counties.


“Research has shown that people are more likely to dispose opioids if the location is convenient, such as a community pharmacy” Freeman said.


Campbell County and Kenton County are among 16 Kentucky communities highly impacted by the opioid crisis in which the HCS is testing a set of proven prevention and treatment practices with the aim of reducing opioid overdose deaths by 40 percent. Along with increasing safe medication disposal, the coalitions of community members in Camp- bell County and Kenton County selected promotion and prevention strategies to increase overdose education and naloxone distribution, expand access to and retention in medication treatment for opioid use disorder, and offer patient and provider education about prescription opioid safety.


For more information, please visit healingstudy.uky.edu.


Campbell/Kenton County Medication Disposal Drop Box Locations

Pharmacy

  • Alexandria Drugs, 7857 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria
  • Blank’s Pharmacy, 272 West Pike Street, Covington
  • Cherokee Drug Shoppe, 6439 Taylor Mill Rd, Independence
  • CVS Pharmacy, 4305 Winston Avenue, Latonia 3516 Dixie Highway, Erlanger
  • Ft. Mitchell Drug Shoppe, 2515 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell
  • Meijer Pharmacy, 5400 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring
  • St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cancer Care Pharmacy, 1 Medical Village, Drive, Edgewood
  • Save Discount Drugs, 716 Madison Avenue, Covington

Law Enforcement

  • Campbell County Police Department
  • Covington Police Department
  • Dayton Police Department
  • Edgewood Police Department
  • Erlanger Police Department
  • Fort Thomas Police Department
  • Fort Wright Police Department
  • Highland Heights Police Department
  • Kenton County Police Department
  • Newport Police Department
  • Park Hills Police Department
  • Southgate Police Department
  • Villa Hills Police Department
  • Wilder Police Department