Not everyone has easy access to drop-off sites. Rural communities, for example, have high opioid use. According to research from the American Academy of Family Physicians, those in rural areas had an 87% higher chance of receiving an opioid prescription compared to those in metropolitan areas, but rural residents are located further away from take back locations. Accessibility aside, some simply won’t use drop-off sites. Research published in JAMA Surgery found that less than 15% of patients given education on drop-off sites disposed of their drugs in that manner.
Deterra complements alternative disposal methods, like drop-off sites or throwing medications in the trash by offering a safer disposal option.