View, Download, and Print Partipant Copy of Module 2 PowerPoint

Slide 1:  Title Slide 

Prescription Opioids and Home Safety: Proper Storage & Disposal

Slide 2:  Meet the Developers

The following Montana State University faculty and staff helped create the content of this toolkit:

  • Michelle U. Grocke-Dewey, Ph.D. Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Health & Human Development, MSU Extension FCS Health & Wellness Specialist
  • Alison Brennan, Ph.D. Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Health & Human Development, MSU Extension FCS Mental Health Specialist
  • Barbara Allen, M.S. Program Director, MSU Extension Associate Specialist
  • Jennifer Munter, Program Manager, MSU Extension
  • Barbara Watson, Program Coordinator, MSU Extension
  • Lori Mayr, FCS Administrative Assistant, MSU Extension

Slide 3:  Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of module two, participants will

  •  
  • Recognize why keeping prescription opioids in the home is an important safety topic for everyone, including the aging adult population.
  • Better understand medication diversion and why it is important to properly store and dispose of unused prescription opioids.
  • Learn ways to safely store medications in the home.
  • Learn the different medication disposal methods available.

Slide 4: Montana’s Aging Adult Populations (Past and Future)

Important Considerations

  • 2020:

vIn 66% of MT counties – 20-29.9% of population is 65+

vIn 11% of MT counties – 30-39.9% of population is 65+

  • 2025:

vIn 66% of MT counties – 20-29.9% of population is 65+

vIn 23% of MT counties – 30-39.9% of population is 65+

  • 2030:

vIn 55% of MT counties – 20-29.9% of population is 65+

vIn 38% of MT counties – 30-39.9% of population is 65+

vIn 2 counties – 40-49.9% of population is 65+

(Data from MT DOC/Census and Economic Information Center – 8/2010)

Keep in mind…Nationally:

  • From 1999 to 2017, the greatest percentage change in drug overdose death rates occurred among adults aged 55–64, increasing from 4.2 per 100,000 in 1999 to 28.0 in 2017, a more than 6-fold increase.

Slide 5: Aging Adults and Prescription Opioids in the Home

  • People ages 45+ are prescribed not only more opioids, but higher dosages as well, increasing the likelihood of trips and falls.
  • There is emerging evidence that Medicare patients have some of the highest and fastest-growing rates of opioid use disorder.
  • The elderly are less likely to recognize signs of overdose.
  • Aging populations metabolize medications differently, thus have a higher likelihood of overdose.
  • The elderly are more likely to take more than 1 prescription = drug interactions

Slide 6: Aging Adults and Prescription Opioids in the Home

  • More grandparents are raising grandchildren than ever before. This family dynamic:
  • Increases the likelihood of elder abuse as many aging individuals are raising grandchildren due to the opioid problem.
  • Increases the hazards associated with accidental poisonings among children.

Slide 7: Why do we care?

  • Since 2000, more than 700 Montanans have died from prescription opioid overdoses.
    299 of those deaths were people aged 45+ (42.7%).How does this affect how we help address keeping our homes and families safe?

Slide 8: Prescription Drug Diversion 

When not stored properly, prescription drug diversion can happen.

  • Prescription drug diversion: the deflection of prescription drugs from medical sources into the illegal market. This includes transferring prescription drugs to people they were not prescribed for.
    • It’s against the law to divert drugs—you can go to jail for it.
    • According the 2019 MT Office of Public Instruction, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, over 1 in 10 high school students has taken a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription.

Slide 9: Safe Storge=A Safe Home 

  • In 2018, Montana providers wrote 54 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons. With a population of 1,053,862 (Census, 2017) residents, 569,085 opioid prescriptions were in circulation.

To prevent drug diversion and accidental overdose from happening:

  • Hide and lock up prescription opioids where family, friends, or guests cannot find them.
  • Keep medications in original container. Remove/black-out your name and prescription number to protect your identity before disposing it.
  • Always keep your medications locked up and stored away, out of reach of children or pets.

Slide 10:  Safe Storage=Out of Sight

Safe Medication Storage Zone – Out of Sight, out of reach!

Are medications safely stored in areas that are inaccessible to children?

Medications should be not only out of reach, but also out of sight!

Securely storing medications is as important as securely storing a gun in your home!

Slide 11:  Safe Medication Storage=Locking Cases

Locking medicine cases are available for purchase on-line and at most major big box stores.  Costs average around $25.

Make every effort to store these lock boxes out of reach and most importantly,

out of sight. 

Slide 12: Safe Medication Disposal Methods

1st Choice:  Utilize local medication take-back community
   events.

2nd Choice: Utilize medication drop-boxes located in your
   community.

3rd Choice: Utilize a Deterra® or other medication
   neutralization pouch.

4th Choice: Utilize household disposal using coffee
   grounds/kitty litter, etc.

5th Choice: Flush medications if directed to do so on the
   label. Does not apply to septic systems.

Slide 13: Prescription Medication Take Back Events

Encourage participation in community events such as National Take-Back Day.

In Montana, the 2019 event:

  • Collected 1,720 lbs. of medication
  • Consisted of 26 collection sites

Click here to locate the next Take Back Day in your area.

https://takebackday.dea.gov/

Slide 14: Prescription Medication Drop Boxes

Disposing of unused medications in a secure collection box is the preferred method for safely disposing of household medications.

These collection boxes are available at permanent collection receptables that reside at law enforcement offices, pharmacies, or other secure locations.

As of August 2019, there were 164 drop-boxes in MT:

  • 50 = police departments or sheriff’s offices
  • 76 = pharmacies
  • 38 = health clinics or hospitals.

For specific locations, visit

https://dphhs.mt.gov/amdd/substanceabuse/dropboxlocations

Slide 15: The Following Items CAN Be Disposed of in a Medication Drop Box

  • Prescription Medications
  • Pet Medications
  • Over-the-Counter Medications
  • Prescription Ointments
  • Prescription Patches
  • Vitamins

Slide 16: The Following Items CANNOT Be Disposed of in Medication Drop Boxes

  • Needles and Syringes

     For Safe Needle and Syringe disposal go to:    http://safeneedledisposal.org/

  • Thermometers
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Inhalers
  • Lotions and Liquids
  • Aerosol Cans

Slide 17: Another Safe Disposal Option–Medication Deactivation Pouches

Single-use medication deactivation pouches:

  •   Contain a substance that neutralizes prescription medications, rendering it safe to dispose of in household garbage.
  •   Allows for quick and easy medication disposal.

* Ideal for those who cannot travel to medication drop box locations. 

Slide 18: Another Safe Disposal Option–Medication Deactivation Pouches

How to Use: Demonstration Video

Small bags: Each small stand-up pouch can deactivate:

Pills / Films: 15     OR
Patches: 2               OR
Liquids / Creams: 2 oz / 60 mL

Medium bags: Each medium stand-up pouch can deactivate:

Pills / Films: 45     OR
Patches: 6               OR
Liquids / Creams: 6 oz / 180 mL

Large bags: Each large stand-up pouch can deactivate:

Pills / Films: 90     OR
Patches: 12               OR
Liquids / Creams: 12 oz / 360 mL

Slide 19: Safe Disposal-Household Trash

If a community drop-box is unavailable, medicines can be mixed with an undesirable substance such as coffee grounds or kitty litter in a sealed plastic bag and disposed of in household trash.

Slide 20:  Why Can't I Flusch My Medications?

Slide 21: Safe Medication Disposal-Flushing

Septic systems are used in many rural areas of Montana.

IF on a septic system, it is recommended that ALL prescription medications are disposed of via the household garbage.

üOTC meds are ok to flush on a septic system

*Flushing fentanyl patches is never recommended.

Slide 22: Safe Medication Disposal-Flushing

Even expired prescription medications should never enter a septic system.

Pharmaceuticals vs. Over the Counter Medications – OTC medications are ok to flush on septic systems; prescription medications (antibiotics, anti-depressants, cancer-related drugs, or painkillers) are not!

Rx meds can harm the septic system:

  • Potential to clog the system
  • Can harm the biological processes needed for proper septic system functioning (just using the bathroom while taking pharmaceuticals can be a problem)
  • Medications, like antibiotics, can kill off the healthy microbes that you need in your septic system. (Bacteria and enzymes aid in filtering the wastewater from your house.)

Slide 23: Safe Medication Disposal -Flushable Medications

Visit the FDA for list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know/drug-disposal-fdas-flush-list-certain-medicines

Slide 24: Safe Medication Disposal-Flushing 

Some pharmacies will place a label on prescriptions indicating whether the medicine is flushable or not.

Check your prescriptions for these labels before flushing medications down the drain.

Slide 25: Safe Medication Disposal-Flushing

Fentanyl Patches

Municipal system only (not applicable to septic systems):

  • FDA recommends: Fold patch in ½, sticky sides together, flush down the toilet.
  • Don’t dispose in household trash where kids and pets can find it. (Also, think about sanitation workers and others who may come into contact with it.)
  • FDA recognizes there are environmental concerns about flushing medicines down the toilet, however, believes the risk associated with accidental exposure outweighs any potential risk associated with disposal by flushing.

Slide 26: Safe Medication Disposal-Quick Tips

Slide 27: Safe Medication Disposal-In Conclusion

  • Prescription opioids need to be securely locked up and out of reach AND sight!
  • Taking the time and effort to ensure that opioid-based medications are properly stored/disposed of can:
    • Prevent accidental overdoses in children
    • Prevent diversion of medications by friends, family, or even acquaintances.

Slide 28: Conclusion

Please visit our website: http://health.msuextension.org/opioid_misuse.html

  • Access to all five modules and PowerPoints
  • Access to the Native American Toolkit
  • Access to informational and recovery story videos
  • Print/download educational resources
  • Order a medication disposal pouch (while supplies last)

If you have any questions, please email our program director   Barbara Allen  blallen@montana.edu

Montana Department of Health and Human Services website: https://dphhs.mt.gov/opioid/

Slide 29 & 30:  References

Aging Adults and Prescription Opioids in the Home. Montana State University Extension, Kinship Navigator Program, 2020. Available at https://msuextension.org/mtknp/index.html

Montana’s Aging Adult Populations. (2010, August). Data from the Montana Department of Commerce – Census and Economics Information Center, https://ceic.mt.gov/

Montana’s Aging Adult Populations. Hedegaard H, Miniño AM, Warner M. Drug overdose deaths in the United States, 1999–2017. NCHS Data Brief, no 329. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db329.htm

Prescription Drug Diversion. 2019 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey High School Results. Retrieved August 18, 2021, from https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/YRBS/2019YRBS/2019_MT_YRBS_FullReport.pdf?ver=2019-08-23-083248-820

Prescription Medication Drop Boxes. Montana Department of Justice, 2019, from https://dojmt.gov/consumer/prescriptiondrugabuse/rx-dropbox-locations/

Prescription Medication Take Back Events. Montana Department of Justice, 2020, from https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/dea-taking-back-unused-prescription-drugs-oct-24-2020

Prescription Medication Take Back Events. United States Drug Enforcement Administration, from https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2019/11/04/over-six-tons-prescription-drugs-and-vaping-devices-collected-dea-take

Safe Storage = A Safe Home. United States Census Bureau: Quick facts Montana. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/MT

Why do we care? Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 2019. Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Montana, Strategic Plan: Interim Draft Report. Retrieved from https://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/Documents/AddressingSubstanceUseDisorderInMontana.pdf

Why do we care? NIDA. 2020, April 3. Montana: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms. Retrieved February 10, 2021, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/montana-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms

Why do we care? NIDA. 2020, April 3. Montana: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms. Retrieved August 18, 2021, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/montana-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms

Why do we care? Wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research (WONDER). Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics; 2020. Available at http://wonder.cdc.gov