February 13, 2024 |
Photo – Deterra ™ pouches – Courtesy deterrasystem.com
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is offering free drug deactivation kits at all clinic locations.
Carbon County Prevention Network Community Engagement Consultant Tracy Young said the drug deactivation kits contain a bag of activated charcoal. Young said the charcoal counteracts opioids, allowing safe disposal of prescription drugs.
Young said the Deterra bags work on any type of medication. The community engagement consultant said after deactivation, the drugs no longer pose a threat to people or the environment.
Young said every year, Carbon County Prevention Network sets aside money in its budget to order a large number of Deterra drug deactivation kits. Young said the kits are then distributed through Memorial Hospital of Carbon County.
Young said she has around 1,500 drug deactivation kits to distribute across the county. The community engagement consultant said she makes sure she has enough kits available for anyone who wants one.
Young said she consistently gives out all the available drug deactivation kits she orders each year.
The Carbon County Prevention Network community engagement consultant encouraged everyone with unused pain medication to use a drug deactivation bag to dispose of their pills.
Young said the Deterra kits are available at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and all associated clinics. She said hospital staff are working to ensure people can easily receive a free drug deactivation bag from any MHCC location.
The free Deterra drug deactivation kits can be gotten from the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County emergency room in Rawlins or from one of the MHCC clinics in Rawlins, Hanna, and Saratoga.
