Community Engagement & the Prevention of Drug Misuse with Proper Medication Disposal

Did you know that proper disposal of medications varies based on the medication? Do you know the estimated cost per year for proper drug disposal? Where can you take medications to be disposed of properly? Join me for a conversation with Dr. Tyler Melton, PharmD to uncover these answers and more. We discuss how opioids in the treatment of pain are the largest category of misuse and are usually stored and disposed of improperly, as well. There has been an increase in opioid overdose deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Improper storage increase the risk of misuse and improper disposal of medications can affect the environment. We discuss the implications of drug diversion for populations like the elderly and adolescents.

Learn where citizens can take unused medications back for disposal and how the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) emphasizes community take-back events twice per year, in April and October.

More about Dr. Melton:
Tyler Melton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), College of Pharmacy. He has ten years of pharmacy practice experience including inpatient and outpatient pharmacy in rural environments. Tyler joined UTHSC in September of 2020, after completing a postdoctoral research fellowship in Community Pharmacy Practice and Prescription Drug Abuse and earning his Master of Public Health from East Tennessee State University. His areas of research expertise include community pharmacy practice, ambulatory care, rural health, health disparities, and prescription drug misuse.

Websites:
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-services/prevention/take-back-box.html

https://www.cvs.com/content/safer-communities-locate

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/safe-opioid-disposal-remove-risk-outreach-toolkit#:~:text=Remove%20the%20Risk%20raises%20awareness,safe%20disposal%20of%20these%20medicines.

https://www.dea.gov/content/partnership-toolbox

Twitter:
@nowhealthful, @Lisa_APRN, @UTHSCnursing

Instagram:
@thatshealthful, @lbeasley0412, @uthscnursing

Hashtags:
#COVID19, #Nursing, #Nurses, #collaboration, #pharmacy, #pharmacists, #TakeBackDay, #publichealth, #opioids, #substance, #prevention, #drugs, #opioid

The “That’s Healthful” podcast is hosted by Dr. Lisa Beasley, a Family Nurse Practitioner, and faculty in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Visit thatshealthful.com for more information or to hear prior episodes. Please follow @nowhealthful on Twitter and thatshealthful on Instagram. Like or comment on an episode wherever you listen or stream your favorite podcasts.

Music for this episode is provided by local Memphis singer, musician, and songwriter – Devan Yanik. For more of Devan’s music visit devanmusic.weebly.com.