Removing abuse-prone prescription medication from fueling the national opioid crisis through community engagement and surgeon leadership: results of a local drug take-back event

BACKGROUND: To address the national opioid and death from overdose crisis in the United States, take-back programs were created to collect and properly dispose of unused abuse-prone drugs. METHODS: Surgeons at Central Michigan University College of Medicine led a community prescription medication take-back drive, administered surveys, characterized event participant demographics, prescription indications, and type and quantity of medications dropped off for disposal. RESULTS: A total of 74,363 dosing units of unused medication were brought in from the homes of 104 event participants. Returned opioids were often prescribed after surgery. Hydrocodone was collected most. Unused opioids were frequently available in homes with children or youth. Collected opioids and benzodiazepines alone had an estimated trademark retail value of over $20,000. CONCLUSION: This surgeon-led public health initiative helped properly dispose a significant amount of unneeded abuse-prone prescription medicine. It highlighted the presence of excess opioid prescribing in a typical Midwestern community. Issues related to improved physician prescribing, utility of take-back drives, and proper drug disposal to avoid misappropriation and abuse by younger generations are discussed.