Erin Bone
Community Connections
North Platte, NE – According to the CDC, 142 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed in the U.S. in 2020. Yet research shows that up to 70% of opioids prescribed for post-surgical use are leftover and unused.
That’s why Community Connections is providing Lincoln County residents with the Deterra® Drug Deactivation and Disposal System for permanent, at-home drug disposal. By distributing Deterra Pouches, Community Connections aims to help local households prevent medication misuse, accidental ingestion, and environmental harm by safely deactivating and disposing of expired or unneeded medications.
“Dependence on prescription painkillers often starts in the home medicine cabinet, where unused and expired medication can be easily accessed by family members and friends,” said Substance Abuse Prevention System Coordinator, Erin Bone. “By using these at-home drug deactivation and disposal pouches, we can help prevent prescription drug misuse in North Platte and Lincoln Count.”
Numerous studies have identified the importance of at-home disposal and the risks of misuse when leaving unused and expired prescription medications in your medicine cabinet. A JAMA Surgery study conducted at the University of Michigan found that of patients prescribed opioids following surgery, those given the Deterra® Drug Deactivation System for at-home disposal were 3.8 times more likely to dispose of left-over and unneeded medications than those who were not provided disposal education or support.
In a simple 3-step process, a user deactivates drugs by putting them in a Deterra Pouch, adding water, shaking, and throwing away in the household garbage.
Deterra’s plant-based packaging and non-toxic ingredients also prevent harmful chemicals from entering our landfills and water supplies, making the world safer for everyone.
Deterra Pouches are available Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm at Community Connections – inside NebraskaLand Bank (downtown) – 121 N Dewey St, North Platte or at
Drug Take-Back events held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, inside Bomgaars at 510 E Philip Ave, North Platte.
You can contact the Substance Abuse Prevention System Coordinator at 308-696-3358 or [email protected] to reserve your Deterra Pouches!
About Deterra and Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc.
Minneapolis-based Verde Environmental Technologies Inc. is a privately owned company committed to developing research-based scientifically proven solutions to reduce drug misuse and negative environmental impact. The patented Deterra® Drug Deactivation and Disposal System is powered by proprietary activated carbon, which deactivates drugs. Deterra is highly effective in adsorbing and firmly binding drugs, rendering them inert, unavailable for misuse and safe for the environment. Visit DeterraSystem.com to learn more.