Developing a health communication campaign for disposal of unused opioid medications

Abstract

Highlights Theory-driven medication disposal campaigns are needed to prevent opioid diversion. Messages with young children increased concern about retaining opioids at home. Messages demonstrating how to dispose of medications increased self-efficacy. Research is needed to assess whether campaigns actually increase rates of disposal.

Educating Young Adults about Opioid Misuse: Evidence from a Mass Media Intervention

“…Study results are consistent with preliminary research findings from other state and local opioid misuse prevention campaigns [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The CDC has also launched a public education campaign called Rx Awareness to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and lower prescription opioid misuse among young adults.…”

How Do People Manage of Their Unused Medicines at Home?

“…This prevents drug abuse or drug repackaging and minimizes environmental damage. This is also in line with the program that has been implemented by the National Food and Drug Agency (BPOM) since 2019, namely the Eradication of Drugs and Drug Abuse (POIPO) in order to create Superior HR for Advanced Indonesia [20].…”

Efficacy of a password‐protected, pill‐dispensing device with mail return capacity to enhance disposal of unused opioids after cancer surgery

“…14,17,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Although there is agreement about the need for disposal of unused pills, the optimal method is uncertain. 21,46 Published interventions have focused on patient education, [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] provision of drug disposal kits, [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]47 and take-back programs. [33][34][35] These initiatives have shown mixed results in trials and generally rely on patient self-report without a mechanism to directly verify opioid removal from the home.…”

“…Interventions to enhance disposal of unused pills have focused on patient education,, 18–24 provision of drug disposal kits, 25–32 and take‐back programs 33–35 . These endeavors have shown mixed results in trials and are likely insufficient in isolation.…”

“…16 Yet, although 70% of prescribed opioids go unused after surgery, less than 10% are disposed of properly. 17 Interventions to enhance disposal of unused pills have focused on patient education,, [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] provision of drug disposal kits, [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] and take-back programs. [33][34][35] These endeavors have shown mixed results in trials and are likely insufficient in isolation.…”