Opioid overdoses have spiked over the past couple of years, in Minnesota and the United States, due to the pandemic’s burdens combined with increased availability of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin. A Minnetonka-based company is handing out a product that could potentially reduce opioid abuse at the place it often begins — the family medicine cabinet.

Chair Fletcher wants to do more to help individuals properly dispose of leftover prescription drugs. He is seeking a way to provide drug disposal bags to households across the region. A person can clean out their medicine cabinet of old prescription drugs, put them in the pouch and add water for them to dissolve.

Our nation faces a host of crises – not the least of which is the escalating opioid addiction epidemic.

The Biden Administration has proposed a plan to address substance misuse and the overdose epidemic. We must not miss the opportunity to invest in prevention and stopping opioid misuse before it begins.

In our latest blog, Detective Melchi of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office discusses specific funding opportunities that can help counties, coalitions, and public safety agencies extend the reach of their prevention efforts with at-home drug deactivation and disposal resources.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal System won a 2021 SEAL Business Sustainability Award.

Deterra was honored in the Sustainable Product category, which recognizes innovative products designed for a sustainable future.

Vinayak Menon aims to safely dispose of one million unused pills in the Atlanta metro. In October, Menon joined forces with the national Gone for Good campaign led by nonprofit SAFE Project to distribute at-home disposal pouches to U.S. households.

So far, Menon has distributed 3,750 drug deactivation and disposal pouches to local community organizations — enough to get rid of nearly 330,000 pills — and will continue the effort till he reaches his target.