Don’t toss, deactivate drugs
To keep old medications from getting into the soil or water tables, Delaware County is urging residents to deactivate those old pharmaceuticals before tossing them.
The county Health Department, along with County Council is launching its Deterra Drug Deactivation System pouch and awareness postcard mailing campaign as part of Delaware County’s use of opioid settlement funds.
Deterra pouches and awareness postcards will be shipped to 165,289 county residential addresses in randomly chosen zip codes — covering about 70 percent of county residential addresses. Most residents can expect to see them as early as next week. More pouches are to be mailed to the remaining addresses next year, depending on additional opioid settlement funding being designated for this purpose.
According to the press release, the non-toxic pouches are an organic and safe alternative for proper disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medications with the simple addition of water. To use them, simply put the unwanted drugs into the pouch, add water, shake them, and then throw them into the trash. The pouches can deactivate up to 45 pills.
“Public Health 3.0 is about meeting residents where they are,” said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon. “Not only do these pouches reduce the potential for abuse of opioids, safely destroy unwanted drugs, and help protect the environment they reduce barriers by helping residents skip the trip to drug drop off box locations.”
The Deterra pouches help protect the environment by preventing pharmaceutical drugs from contaminating water supply and landfills. They also destigmatize substance use disorders, reminding residents of resources for help in the county, and reducing avenues for drug abuse and addiction.
“The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is a game-changer in our fight against the drug overdose epidemic,” said Council Chair Dr. Taylor. “It provides a discreet, effective way to dispose of unused medications, helping to destigmatize substance use disorders while supporting individuals and families impacted by this crisis.”
Recipients are urged not to dispose of these pouches before they can be used. If people have no immediate need for them, they should save them for later or give them to others who have a use for them. The pouches have no expiration date.
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