Purdue Pharma participates in North Carolina drug disposal program

Teaming up to enhance North Carolina’s public health outcomes, Purdue Pharma  of Stamford, Connecticut; nationwide Project Lazarus; and Safe Kids North Carolina recently entered a three-way collaboration via the North Carolina Disposal Initiative (NCDI).
NCDI plans to facilitate medicine disposal, conduct ongoing research to assess community prevention initiatives to combat opioid abuse and promote education. With Purdue Pharma’s help, it will coordinate drop-box locations throughout the state.
“Medicine disposal is a community-based activity,” Project Lazarus President and CEO Fred Wells Brason II said. “Working with Purdue Pharma and Safe Kids N.C., 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.”
Interventions such as take-back events and drop boxes are planned. Based in Raleigh, Safe Kids North Carolina comprises 45 local coalitions spanning 71 counties.
North Carolina insurance commissioner and state fire marshal Mike Causey concurred regarding keeping medicines handled appropriately.
“Medications should always be locked out of reach of children, and when … no longer needed, they should be disposed of in a safe way,” Causey said.
To learn more and find local activities or disposal options, visit https://www.projectlazarus.org/ncdi. Project Lazarus operates in the Tar Heel State from Moravian Falls.