GPhA-Sponsored App Promotes Safe Drug Disposal

A mobile app sponsored by GPhA allows users to find permanent prescription drug collection boxes, according to a press release from the association. Developed in conjunction with the American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC), the free app, AMCC RxDrop, links users to a directory of permanent prescription collection sites. Each of the sites is sponsored by local, county, or state law enforcement.

The app links to collection sites in 41 states and is available for both Apple and Android devices.

“Having 24-hour access—in the palm of your hand—to locations of permanent sites will help parents and grandparents protect their families by safely disposing of their medicine,” Angelo M. Valenta, AMCC chief executive officer, said in a release.

AMCC is a community-based public health initiative that partners with local law enforcement offices to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse. It cosponsors a nationwide day of disposal for unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medicine on the second Saturday in November. The not-for-profit initiative has more than 1000 community and law enforcement partnerships in all 50 states.

The initiative encourages a 5-step process for preventing prescription drug abuse. The steps include taking inventory and securing medicine in the home, disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired medicine, taking medicine only as prescribed, and talking to children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription drug abuse leads to 1 death every 19 minutes in the United States.

In addition, the Office for National Drug Control Policy reports that approximately 29% of people 12 years and older who used illicit drugs for the first time in the past year began by using prescription drugs nonmedically. Approximately 70% of people abusing prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends and relatives, the Office added.

“GPhA has been a longtime supporter of the AMCC and this new app will provide an important new tool to help us achieve our shared goal of ensuring that medications made to improve the quality of lives are not abused,” Ralph G. Neas, president and chief executive officer of GPhA, said in a press release.

“The generic pharmaceutical industry is committed to working with all stakeholders to put a stop to the problem of prescription drug diversion in the United States and help make certain that caregivers and family members are not alone in this fight.”