Deterra pouches handed out to patients to combat opioid misuse

An effort funded by county government to help people safely dispose of unused prescription drugs through the trash is under way in East County and central San Diego, officials said.

County officials say more than 1,200 drug-deactivating pouches have been distributed to patients who have been prescribed opioids after a medical or dental procedure. The pilot program was approved by the county Board of Supervisors in October and is funded by a one-time grant of $500,000 from opioid lawsuit settlement funds.

Under the program, medication disposal bags are given out by medical and dental offices and pharmacies. The program is being rolled out in areas where increased rates of overdose deaths have been documented, county officials said.