The North Carolina Disposal Initiative (NCDI), which was recently formed by Purdue Pharma L.P., Project Lazarus and Safe Kids North Carolina, is focusing on supporting medicine disposal and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention programs on opioid abuse and overdoses.
“Medicine disposal is a community-based activity and needs to be examined from the community level,” Project Lazarus President and CEO Fred Wells Brason II said in a Purdue Pharma release. “Working with Purdue Pharma and Safe Kids NC, we will continue our work to educate North Carolina communities about the need to properly dispose of medicines and provide the resources for the proper disposal.”
Funding from Purdue Pharma will allow Project Lazarus to provide permanent medication drop-offs at pharmacies, clinics and law enforcement facilities, the release said. Project Lazarus has already provided 80 medication drop boxes. An additional 35 drop boxes would be provided by the NCDI initiative.
“Nearly 54 percent of people misusing pain relievers got them from a friend or relative," Purdue Pharma Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs Gail Cawkwell said in the release. "Purdue Pharma is committed to supporting and funding initiatives that aim to improve public health outcomes by reducing the amount of medicine available for misuse and diversion. We’re not walking away from this issue, and we believe if we work together with key stakeholders, we can start to make a difference.”
