Commentary
Veterans’ Health and Opioid Safety–Contexts, Risks, and Outreach Implications
America has been facing an epidemic of drug overdoses. Prescription opioid misuse has been a major driver of this phenomenon.
After a successful pilot run last November, the Saginaw Chippewa’s Tribal Community Rx Drug Drop-off in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, went even better the second time around: Nearly 18 pounds of pills were dropped off, along with 7 pounds of liquid-based prescription drugs and 15 pounds of epinephrine auto-injectors and needles.
Related: Health and Opioid Safety—Contexts, Risks, and Outreach Implications
Jeff Browne, public information officer for the Mount Pleasant police, measured the success in more than pounds, according to an article for the Native Health News Alliance: He pointed also to the education and awareness potential of teaching people both the dangers of unmonitored prescription medicines and the harm to the environment of improper disposal. “About 30 years ago, the issue was environmental,” agreed Tribal Senior Judge Patrick Shannon. “…[W]ater quality was a major concern; now, that is secondary to drug abuse.”
Related: Using Dashboard Technology to Monitor Overdose Risk
Participants in the drug drop-off event were entered in a raffle to win a hotel stay and waterpark passes, concert tickets, gas cards, and gift baskets.
