Winston-Salem, NC, Oct. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inmar, Inc. has launched a Consumer Drug Take-Back Program to help in the battle against prescription opioid abuse throughout the United States. The nationwide program provides subscribing hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies and law enforcement agencies as well as physician offices and long-term care facilities that have on-site pharmacies with DEA-compliant prescription drug take-back receptacles where patients and visitors can simply and safely deposit surplus/expired medications.
Once a receptacle is full, program subscribers follow a simple process for executing fully audited shipping of the receptacle’s replaceable inner liner back to Inmar for certified destruction. Inmar’s solution is easily implemented and managed in compliance with the DEA Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010.
To help launch the drug take-back program and bring immediate assistance to the fight against prescription opioid abuse, Inmar has executed a special initiative to place receptacles throughout its home state of North Carolina and provide full subscription service at the receptacle sites free of charge for one full year. Nine North Carolina pharmacies have committed to participating in this unique enablement effort and all will have receptacles in place in time for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 28.
The participating pharmacies are:
- Cape Fear Pharmacy (Wilmington)
- Benzer Pharmacy (Fuquay Varina and Mint Hill)
- UNC Student Stores Pharmacy (Chapel Hill)
- Upchurch Drugs (Durham)
- Lewisville Drug Company (Lewisville)
- PSA Clinic Pharmacy (Swannanoa)
- Yadkin Valley Pharmacy (Yadkinville)
- Stanleyville Family Pharmacy (Winston-Salem)
While these communities are all contending with opioid abuse to one extent or another, the problem is particularly acute in Wilmington which was identified in a recent Castlight Health report as having the highest opioid abuse rate in the country. Therefore, the fact that the Inmar Consumer Drug Take-Back Program is entering Wilmington is significant to Inmar Chairman and CEO David Mounts.
“We are very pleased that Inmar’s Consumer Drug Take-Back Program will be a resource for the people of Wilmington as they work to stop prescription drug abuse,” says Mounts. “The problem of medication misuse is a nationwide issue, but it is gratifying to be actively supporting mitigation efforts in an area of our state so deeply affected by opioid abuse. With our solution permanently in place in communities throughout North Carolina, we look forward to making a real difference not only on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, but every day -- all year long,” adds Mounts.
“The opioid crisis is devastating to our families, friends and our communities across the state,” said N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “Inmar’s Consumer Drug Take-Back Program will help us reduce the oversupply of prescription opioids along with the diversion of prescription drugs – both components of North Carolina’s Opioid Action Plan. We appreciate Inmar, Inc. joining us in the effort to turn the tide on the opioid crisis.”
Drug take-back programs like Inmar’s have the potential to significantly impact prescription opioid abuse by helping remove opioids and other medications from the home. The presence of unsecured and unmonitored medications in the home is a major contributing factor to the opioid abuse crisis as this is where much of the diversion and misuse originates. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported that approximately 75 percent of heroin users have their first experience with opioids obtained from the medicine cabinets of family and friends.
At the same time, Inmar’s solution will help mitigate the improper -- and environmentally harmful -- disposal of medications by patients which typically involves the drugs being flushed down the toilet, poured into the sink or simply thrown out with the trash. This kind of disposal on a nationwide basis is driving up the amounts of medications being found in surface water bodies (streams, lakes, and rivers) across the United States and creating negative health implications for both human beings and wildlife.
.https://www.inmar.com/inmar-solution/consumer-drug-take-back-program/
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