How to increase access to drug misuse prevention resources in rural communities
Upcoming Events
Related News
Rural communities have not been immune to the impact of our nation’s opioid crisis. The 60 million Americans living in rural areas have an 87 percent higher chance of receiving an opioid prescription compared to those living in cities. The inconvenience of returning to the doctor for a refill or driving to a distant take-back site may prompt rural families to save their unused and expired prescriptions in case they need them later.
Opioid dependence often starts in the home medicine cabinet. With more than 60 percent of opioids going unused after surgery, its essential that rural families have a convenient way to safely deactivate and dispose of unneeded medications prescribed by their doctor and/or their animals’ veterinarian.
County officials can help raise awareness about medication misuse and increase access to proper drug disposal with at-home resources like the Deterra® Drug Deactivation and Disposal System.
Expanding access to prevention and disposal resources
In Minnesota, we strive to educate individuals on the importance of proper drug disposal by providing a solution that offers immediate drug deactivation and helps protect the water and soil that rural communities depend on.
One of the tools we’ve successfully implemented is Deterra, a plant-based drug deactivation pouch that allows users to safely dispose of unwanted drugs – including opioids and fentanyl – with the simple addition of tap water. The pouch can be thrown in the normal household trash, providing a convenient alternative to flushing or sinking leftover medications that can contaminate our water systems.
With the help of county agencies, the Minnesota Farm Bureau has worked to increase awareness about the opioid epidemic and bring attention to prevention resources available to our rural communities in several ways:
- Create resources. We’ve created a resource card that is adhered to a Deterra Pouch and distributed to the 78 county farm bureaus across Minnesota with helpful tips, links to online materials and ideas to help foster conversations and community awareness about opioids.
- Offer drug deactivation and disposal pouches. The Minnesota Farm Bureau has distributed nearly 25,000 Deterra Pouches. The pouches are available to county leaders so they can provide residents with discreet, at-home disposal and help educate individuals about the importance of disposal in preventing opioid misuse.
- Seek out partnerships. Partnering with organizations like local law enforcement, hospice providers, pharmacies and community groups to educate families and provide prevention tools helps further our efforts and impact as many people as possible.
How county executives can support safe disposal
Counties across the country are introducing legislation to make at-home drug disposal more accessible to residents. County executives in New York’s Rensselaer County and Albany County have successfully mandated that pharmacies provide drug deactivation and disposal products alongside opioid prescriptions, creating a model for counties striving to combat the growing opioid crisis.
Allocating grant funds and opioid settlement dollars to evidence-based prevention tools like Deterra is an impactful way to ensure rural counties have access to convenient drug disposal. Contact Deterra to learn more about securing funds for at-home drug deactivation and disposal or visit Deterra’s funding directory for an overview of funding options that could help your county add at-home drug deactivation to its prevention efforts.
Post Sponsor
Empowering Communities: How County Leaders are Tackling the Opioid Crisis Head-On
Forward-thinking county leaders are implementing year-round strategies to prevent overdoses, educate communities about the importance of proper drug disposal and connect residents with local resources for support.
County collaboration is key to overcoming the cybersecurity talent shortage
In the United States, citizens depend on county governments to deliver many of the nation’s most critical services. These organizations play a crucial role in ensuring overall community well-being by managing essential services such as law enforcement, public health, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency response.
DTE Energy bringing natural gas, opportunity to Tri-County Region in Northern Michigan
Residents of Benzie, Manistee and Wexford counties in Michigan can breathe a sigh of relief this winter as natural gas becomes available in the region for the first time leading to significant savings, increased comfort and improved reliability.
Building Resilience Against Climate Change – Insights from Tidal Basin
Carlos J. Castillo, President of Federal Services at Tidal Basin, emphasized the critical role of emergency management in local climate resilience at the 2024 NACo Legislative Conference and Annual Conference.
Investing Over $100 Billion in American Infrastructure
AT&T has invested over $140 billion in the past five years to enhance American connectivity, focusing on expanding its role as the nation's largest fiber internet provider and improving its reliable 5G network, which now serves nearly 290 million people.
Building Networks for the Next Century, Not the Last One
AT&T emphasizes its nearly 150-year history of innovation and connectivity as it transitions from traditional copper landlines to modern fiber and wireless technologies, highlighting the importance of adapting to current consumer demands and technological advancements.
Travis County Develops 2,000 Units of Housing to Address Homelessness
This post is sponsored by our partners at Guidehouse. Through Guidehouse's comprehensive support, Travis County is on track to successfully create over 2,000 units of affordable, supportive housing by 2027.
Feeding kids during the summer requires county officials
The introduction of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program marks a pivotal shift in addressing childhood hunger, especially during the summer when school meals are unavailable. This nationwide initiative, offering substantial grocery benefits, promises transformative support for over 29 million children, with a significant impact on communities facing systemic inequalities.
Why customer-centric strategy is vital for digital service adoption
The importance of a customer-centric strategy in digital service adoption for county governments is emphasized, highlighting the need for thoughtful design, clear communication, and multi-channel engagement to meet user expectations and improve customer experience.
Fighting opioid addiction – one life at a time
The opioid crisis, a major national issue, saw a 55% increase in drug overdose deaths from 2019 to 2022, with 75% involving opioids. Effective strategies to combat this include integrated care, policy enhancement, and technology, focusing on whole-person care and intervention opportunities to save lives.
Planning for the post-American Rescue Plan Act future
Guidehouse outlines strategies for state and local governments to sustain programs after the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding. It emphasizes the need for reassessing constituent needs, measuring program impact, and considering fiscal implications to ensure long-term viability and effective resource allocation for programs initially funded by SLFRF.
How voluntary benefits can help improve your employee benefit package
Voluntary benefits, tailored to diverse employee needs and often at reduced costs, are proving essential in enhancing employer benefit packages, attracting, and retaining talent, and addressing specific wellbeing issues across different age and income groups.
A countywide opioid misuse prevention campaign is easier to implement than you think
The Deterra Household Mailing Campaign delivers educational tools and deactivation pouches directly to homes. To save lives by tackling the opioid crisis.
From prevention to resilience: Strategies in wildfire mitigation
Explore a multifaceted approach to wildfire mitigation with Tidal Basin. From creating defensible spaces to early detection systems, discover strategies fostering resilient communities, protecting lives & property. Urgent action is crucial amidst rising wildfire risks. Learn more at TidalBasinGroup.com.
Related News
National Association of Counties Launches Disaster Reform Task Force
Local government leaders will tackle questions of resiliency, response and recovery
Application deadline approaching for NACo's Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils Peer Exchange
This 1.5-day event is an opportunity for representatives from a criminal justice coordinating council (CJCC) or other similar county-level entity to take part in peer learning and networking, hear from experts in the field, share successes and brainstorm solutions to common criminal justice challenges.