Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39642784›Full record

ArticleDrug and alcohol dependence2025

Medication disposal within reach: Assessing implementation of permanent disposal receptacles in community pharmacies.

Dustin K Miracle, Laura Stinson, Monica F Roberts, Douglas R Oyler, Adrienne Matson, Hannah K Knudsen, Sharon L Walsh, Patricia R Freeman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Dustin K MiracleDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: dustin.miracle@uky.edu.
Laura StinsonSubstance Use Priority Research Area, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: laura.stinson@uky.edu.
Monica F RobertsSubstance Use Priority Research Area, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: monica.roberts@uky.edu.
Douglas R OylerDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: doug.oyler@uky.edu.
Adrienne MatsonDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: adrienne.matson@uky.edu.
Hannah K KnudsenDepartment of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center for Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: hkknud2@uky.edu.
Sharon L WalshDepartment of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center for Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: sharon.walsh@uky.edu.
Patricia R FreemanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center for Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: trish.freeman@uky.edu.

Funding

Kentucky CAN HEAL (Communities and Networks Helping End Addiction Long-term)UM1DA049406 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI WALSH, SHARON L. · 2019 to 2022
$81.7M
NIDA NIH HHS UM1 DA049406
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAvailability of medication disposal receptacles is critical to curbing nonmedical opioid use and diversion; however, availability in community pharmacies is sparse. The objective of this study was to describe implementation of the community pharmacy medication disposal program offered by the HEALing Communities Study in Kentucky (HCS-KY) using the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment) framework.

methodsSixteen counties participated in the HCS-KY from 1/1/2020-12/31/2023. Exploration and Preparation included gathering and review of evidence-based literature, state/community data, and key opinion leader input to develop a detailed implementation plan. Implementation and Sustainment were assessed using implementation outcome data collected (e.g., number of receptacles placed, amount of drug returned) and semi-structured qualitative interviews to evaluate common themes, including barriers and facilitators related to implementation and sustainment.

resultsDisposal receptacles were placed in 59 pharmacies within the 16 HCS-KY counties. Following implementation, the median number of receptacles per participating county increased significantly from 2.5 to 4.5 (p<0.001). A total of 8019.9 pounds of drug were returned during the study period, with a median per-county return rate of 230.5 pounds per year. Twenty-one pharmacy representatives participated in qualitative interviews. Most (70.0 %) reported weekly receptacle usage; however, few (35.0 %) reported routinely discussing disposal with patients. While 42.9 % reported no barriers, the most frequently reported barrier (33.3 %) was receptacle limitations (e.g., only available during business hours, dosage form restrictions).

conclusionsImplementation of the HCS-KY community pharmacy medication disposal program led to notable increases in disposal locations that were highly utilized by communities.

Indexed as

PharmaciesCommunity Pharmacy ServicesHumansKentuckyMedical Waste DisposalOpioid-Related DisordersRefuse DisposalMedical Waste DisposalBarriers and facilitatorsControlled substancesImplementation strategiesMedication disposalOpioid epidemicPrescription drug diversion

Identifiers

PMID39642784
PMCPMC12617826

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.