FDA launches public education campaign to encourage safe removal of unused opioid pain medicines from homes
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the
launch of a new education campaign to help Americans understand the important
role they play in removing and properly disposing of unused prescription
opioids from their homes. This new initiative is part of the FDA’s continued
efforts to address the nationwide opioid crisis and aims to help decrease
unnecessary exposure to opioids and prevent new addiction. The “Remove the
Risk” campaign is targeting women ages 35-64, who are most likely to oversee household
health care decisions and often serve as the gatekeepers to opioids and other
prescription medications in the home.
“The epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose is one of the
greatest public health tragedies we’re facing as a nation, and no community is
immune,” said Amy Abernethy, M.D., principal deputy commissioner at the FDA.
“We know that many people who misuse prescription opioids report getting them
from a friend or family member. If every household removed prescription opioids
once they’re no longer medically needed for their prescribed purpose it would
have a major impact on the opioid crisis’ hold on American families and
communities.”
Prescription opioids are powerful, pain-reducing medicines
that can help patients successfully manage pain when prescribed for the right
condition and when used properly. When misused or abused, however, these drugs
can cause serious harm, including addiction, overdose and death. In 2017,
retail pharmacies dispensed more than 191 million opioid prescriptions to
almost 60 million patients, either as first-time prescriptions or refills. As
many as 90% of these patients reported not finishing what was prescribed to
them, potentially leaving millions of unused prescription opioids in medicine
cabinets and elsewhere in US homes if not disposed of properly. During that
same year, 47,600 people died from an overdose involving opioids. According to
data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration, half of people who misused
prescription opioids got them from a friend or family member.
As part of the “Remove the Risk” campaign, the FDA launched a
new toolkit of materials, available in English and Spanish, which include:
television, radio and print public service announcements disclaimer icon
(PSAs); fact sheets; social media graphics and posts; and website badges that
can be used by individuals, health care providers and organizations. These
materials are being made available free of charge to news media, health care
providers, consumer groups, and other organizations working to combat the
opioids crisis. The agency also recently updated information on safe disposal
of unused prescription opioids on its Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You
Should Know webpage, which can help individuals determine the best disposal
option for their situation.
“Far too many Americans, both teens and adults, are gaining
access to opioids for the first time from the medicine cabinets of their
parents, relatives and friends. Millions of unused opioid pills should not be
readily available and easily accessible in our homes,” said Douglas
Throckmorton, M.D, deputy director of regulatory programs in the FDA’s Center
for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Our ‘Remove the Risk’ campaign serves to
both educate Americans on this issue and provide them with easy-to-follow steps
to take so they can immediately remove prescription opioids from their homes
and avoid unintentionally contributing to the risk of misuse or abuse of these drugs
by a friend or loved one.”
Medicine take-back options are the preferred way to dispose
of most types of unneeded medicines safely, including opioids. Authorized
locations may be in retail pharmacies; hospital or clinic pharmacies; and law
enforcement facilities. Some authorized collection sites may also offer
mail-back programs or “drop-boxes” to assist patients in safe disposal of their
unused medicines. The next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is on April
27, 2019.
Additionally, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that
Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT)
Act gave the FDA the authority to require manufacturers to develop disposal
technologies (such as a mail-back pouches) to make it even easier for patients
to get unused medicines out of their homes.
This is just one of the many efforts being made to combat the
opioids tragedy. The FDA remains committed to addressing this national crisis
on all fronts, with a significant focus on decreasing exposure to opioids and
preventing new addiction; supporting the treatment of those with opioid use
disorder; fostering the development of novel pain treatment therapies; and
taking action against those who contribute to the illegal importation and sale
of opioid products.
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