Walmart is offering a first-of-its kind opioid disposal product for free at all of its pharmacies, according to a company statement. The product, called DisposeRX, enables patients to responsibly dispose of leftover medications by turning them into a useless gel. A DisposeRX packet is used by emptying it into a pill bottle with warm water to create the biodegradable gel, according to a statement from Walmart. The solution solidifies, and can be tossed out, making them inaccessible for illicit use.DisposeRx provides a virtually effortless way for patients to destroy leftover opioids and a way to do so without ever leaving home, said Walmart in a statement.If no Drug Take-Back program is available in your area, consumers can follow these simple steps from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to dispose of a small number of drugs. This is an acceptable means to dispose of these drugs because they can be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom the drug was intended or prescribed.There are a select number of drugs that can be disposed of by flushing them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed and when they cannot be disposed of through a drug take-back program. When you dispose of these medicines down the sink or toilet, they cannot be accidently used by children, pets, or anyone else. You may have received disposal directions for these medicines when you picked up your prescription.
