Safe Medication Disposal
In This Section
Addressing Prescription Abuse
As a leader in manufacturing safe and effective medications for the treatment of pain, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals has been committed to addressing the issues of prescription opioid misuse, abuse and diversion by providing educational resources for patients and prescribers, supporting drug take-back events and offering a safe medication disposal method for old or unused medications. Through safe medication disposal, families can actively address concerns with the responsible use of pain medications and patient safety.
A Safe Inactivation and Disposal Method
Patients’ home medicine cabinets can contribute to prescription medication diversion.
A national survey of U.S. adults who used opioids showed that nearly 6 out of 10 had or expect to have leftover opioids, according to findings published online June 13, 2016, in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal.
Nearly 68 percent of those who used prescription pain relievers non-medically in 2012-2013 got them from friends or relatives, according to the 2013 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Mallinckrodt distributes medication disposal pouches through collaboration with policy champions and community leaders who share our goal of building public awareness of the critical role of responsible drug disposal in the fight against prescription drug abuse. The pouch-based systems that Mallinckrodt is donating deactivate prescription drugs and render chemical compounds safe for landfills. These systems are manufactured by Minneapolis-based Verde Technologies.
As a company focused on our patients and communities, Mallinckrodt has long been a strong advocate of addressing the complex issues of opioid misuse and abuse. Providing patients with a safe, environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused medications is critical in this fight against prescription drug abuse.
How The Technology Works
- Sealable pouch contains active carbon
- Patient adds any remaining medications and water to the pouch
- Carbon binds to the active ingredients and breaks the medication down
- Sealed pouch can then be safely disposed of in household garbage
Past Mallinckrodt Donation Partnerships
Health Care Providers: Order a Complimentary Box of Six (6) Pouches
Mallinckrodt is supplying physicians’ offices with a box of six complimentary home medication disposal pouches to provide to patients receiving prescriptions for pain medications.
One pouch inactivates the active ingredients of the medication, making it safe to dispose of in the trash since the active ingredients do not get into the water supply and cannot be extracted. One pouch can inactivate 10-15 pills for safe disposal in the household garbage.
Physicians' offices may place an order by completing the form below.