Partners Distributing 50,000 Medicine Disposal Pouches Statewide More Than 50,000 Medicine Disposal Pouches Ahead of Holiday Season

The Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC) and New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA), in partnership with the Public Health Networks and the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative of New Hampshire (RALI NH), are currently distributing 25,000 medicine disposal bags throughout the state, bringing the total distribution to 50,000 over the past few months. The partners joined forces to educate New Hampshire families on safe medicine storage and disposal practices as schools begin reopening this fall and parents face continued challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While individuals and families across the state have been staying safe at home, the opioid epidemic has remained a concern for those struggling with addiction or managing recovery.

The initiative is delivering Deterra Drug Deactivation disposal pouches donated by RALI NH to staging locations across the state, including the Public Health Networks who will be making the Deterra Drug Deactivation Pouches available to their communities at no cost.  Annika Stanley-Smith, Director of Substance Misuse Prevention at Capital Area Public Health Network, a RALI NH state partner says “We appreciate all the partners that have stepped up to join this effort, we want to make sure every New Hampshire community has access to these medicine disposal pouches, and more importantly, are aware of the safe storage and disposal practices especially these days with everything state residents are enduring with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

With many individuals and families across the state still spending more time than usual at home to help prevent spread of the pandemic, it is important to understand how to properly store and dispose of prescriptions as a way to take action against substance misuse. Always making sure medicines are securely stored and out of the reach of children and finding time to go through medicine cabinets to safely dispose of unused or expired medications can make a difference or even save a life. You can find more information about at-home disposal options and take back locations across the state to keep your community safe by visiting https://www.ralinh.org/.

“The safe and proper disposal of unused prescription medicines is a critical element in fighting prescription drug misuse, and given our state’s current opioid crisis and the challenges our patients and their families are facing, we’re grateful for the partners who have shown tremendous leadership in the fight against opioid addiction in supporting this effort,” said New Hampshire Hospital Association, President, Steve Ahnen.

Prior to this effort, these public and private partners worked together to collect, pack, and deliver 25,000 Wellness Kits to participating schools and regional pick-up sites across New Hampshire. Wellness Kits included a wide collection of donated products and materials such as educational flyers, dental kits along with the medicine disposal pouches.

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