Evaluation of opioid disposal opportunities in the United States

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine whether caregivers, pharmacies, and law enforcement authorities would accept the return of unused opioids, and whether pharmacies provide patient education regarding the return of unused opioids. Methods: The pharmacies of every children’s hospital in the United States, along with a large sample of chain pharmacies, nonchain pharmacies, and police stations in every state were contacted to determine if their facility would accept unused opioids. Results: One thousand four hundred and seventy-seven phone calls were successfully placed to 858 pharmacies (436 chain, 422 nonchain), 431 police stations, and 188 children’s hospitals in all 50 states. Overall, only 415 of the 1477 (28%) of the contacted locations offered to take the medication. Police stations offered to take the opioids at a significantly higher rate (60%, P<0.001) than pharmacies (15%) or children’s hospitals (11%). There was also a significant difference in pharmacy types, with independent pharmacies having a higher take-back rate (24%, P<0.001) than retail chain pharmacies (7%). Finally, 78% of children’s hospital pharmacies reported that they recommend proper disposal of any unused opioids at the time the medication is dispensed compared to only 29% of chain and nonchain pharmacies (P<0.0001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that only 28% of children’s hospital pharmacies, police stations, and commercial pharmacies across the country would accept the return of unused opioids. Only 29% of commercial pharmacies reported educating patients about options to return unused opioids. Patients would benefit from more consistent and better-publicized efforts to secure the return of unused medications.