At-home opioid disposal kit for patients after knee and shoulder surgery

SafeMedWaste At-Home, Environmentally-Friendly Opioid Disposal Kit for Orthopedic Post-Operative Surgical Patients to Reduce Opioids Available for Diversion

NIH-funded research Okra Medical, INC. · NIH-10765871

This study is creating a handy and safe kit to help people recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries get rid of any leftover opioid pain medications, making it easier for them to avoid addiction and keep their communities safe.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 1 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOkra Medical, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Johns Island, United States)
Project IDNIH-10765871 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a safe and environmentally-friendly kit for patients recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries to dispose of unused opioids. The kit aims to reduce the risk of opioid addiction by providing a convenient disposal method that encourages compliance and prevents diversion of medications. By addressing the urgent need for effective opioid disposal solutions, the research seeks to mitigate the public health crisis associated with opioid misuse. Patients will be educated on the importance of proper disposal and how to use the kit effectively.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing knee or shoulder surgeries who are prescribed opioids for pain management.

Not a fit: Patients who do not undergo knee or shoulder surgeries or who do not receive opioid prescriptions will not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the number of patients who develop opioid use disorder after surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that effective disposal methods can reduce the risk of opioid misuse, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Johns Island, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.