At-home opioid disposal kit for patients after knee and shoulder surgery
Official title: SafeMedWaste At-Home, Environmentally-Friendly Opioid Disposal Kit for Orthopedic Post-Operative Surgical Patients to Reduce Opioids Available for Diversion
Funded at Okra Medical, INC. · NIH-10765871 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Okra Medical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Johns Island, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $323,698 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DA057750-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10765871 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing knee or shoulder surgeries who are prescribed opioids for pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not undergo knee or shoulder surgeries or who do not receive opioid prescriptions will not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Okra Medical, INC.
Johns Island, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stas, Justin — Okra Medical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Stas, Justin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.