Cleveland County Health Department Takes Proactive Steps Against Opioid Overdoses with Free Medication Misuse Prevention Resources

Cleveland County Health Department is taking a proactive stance against the rising drug overdose deaths and emergency department visits in the county. With almost 40% of these visits related to commonly prescribed opioids, the health department is offering free resources to help prevent medication misuse and abuse.

In 2022, Cleveland County saw 36 overdose deaths and 241 overdose emergency department visits, highlighting the urgent need for tools to prevent prescription opioid misuse. To address this issue, the health department is providing Deterra pouches and medicine lock boxes at no cost to local households. These resources can help prevent medication misuse, accidental ingestion, and environmental harm by promoting safe storage and disposal of unused or expired medications. By providing these tools, the health department aims to prevent substance misuse before it even begins.

Deterra medication disposal kits are highly effective in rendering drugs inactive and unavailable for misuse while also being safe for the environment. The three-step process of deactivating drugs in a Deterra Pouch with water and then disposing of them in the household garbage helps prevent harmful chemicals from entering landfills and water supplies. Additionally, medicine lock boxes are available as part of the Lock Your Meds national campaign to reduce prescription drug misuse through safe home storage.

Community members interested in obtaining a free Deterra medication disposal kit or medicine lock box can pick them up at the Cleveland County Health Department on S. Post Road in Shelby during regular business hours. For more information or to request these resources for your home or business, contact Carmen Barbuto, Drug Free Communities Grant Coordinator, at carmen.barbuto@clevelandcountync.gov or 980-484-5335. These free resources are essential in addressing the opioid crisis and promoting the safe use of prescription medications in Cleveland County.

The Cleveland County Health Department recognizes that prescription opioids are a major contributor to drug overdose deaths and emergency department visits in their community. To address this issue head-on, they have taken action by providing free resources that promote safe storage and disposal of unused or expired medications.

Deterra medication disposal kits are highly effective at rendering drugs inactive while also being safe for the environment. By following a three-step process of deactivating drugs with water before disposing of them in household garbage, harmful chemicals are prevented from entering landfills and water supplies.

Medicine lock boxes are also available as part of their initiative to reduce prescription drug misuse through safe home storage.

The Cleveland County Health Department encourages community members interested in obtaining a free Deterra medication disposal kit or medicine lock box to visit their office on S. Post Road in Shelby during regular business hours.

For more information on these resources or how you can support their efforts against prescription opioid misuse