Evaluating how pharmacies implement medication disposal programs across the U.S.
Official title: Assessing Implementation of Pharmacy-Based Medication Disposal Programs: National Estimates, Neighborhood Inequities, and Determinants of Implementation
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-10899437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well pharmacies in the U.S. are providing ways for people to safely dispose of unused medications, especially in communities that might need it the most, to help reduce the risk of prescription opioids being misused.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $77,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DA055783-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals living in communities with high rates of opioid prescriptions and those concerned about the safe disposal of unused medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use prescription opioids or who live in areas with adequate disposal options may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how effectively pharmacies across the United States have implemented medication disposal programs, particularly focusing on the accessibility of these programs to various communities. It aims to understand the prevalence of disposal boxes in pharmacies and the factors that influence their implementation. By analyzing data from a sample of pharmacies, the study seeks to identify health disparities and barriers that may affect different neighborhoods, especially among underserved populations. The ultimate goal is to reduce the availability of unused prescription opioids in homes, thereby decreasing the risk of nonmedical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to safe medication disposal options, reducing the risk of opioid misuse in communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing community-based disposal programs can effectively reduce the availability of unused medications, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Egan, Kathleen Louise — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Egan, Kathleen Louise
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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.