Released: December 18, 2023
The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) joined Delaware County Council, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Emergency Services for a press conference on Monday, December 18, to announce the launch of its new Deterra Drug Deactivation System Awareness Campaign that will provide Delaware County residents with a safe, quick, and convenient process for disposing of unused, unwanted, and expired medications.
Understanding the danger that pharmaceuticals may pose to residents, especially to children and the elderly, DCHD has contracted with Deterra to roll out this impactful public health harm reduction strategy directly to residents this December.
Deterra pouches and awareness postcards will be shipped to 165,289 county residential addresses in randomly chosen zip codes—approximately 70% of all residential addresses in the county— just in time for the holidays. Most residents can expect to see them as early as next week.
The campaign is being funded as part of Delaware County’s use of opioid settlement funds. DCHD plans to mail Deterra pouches to remaining addresses next year, contingent on additional opioid settlement funding being designated for this purpose.
How the Deterra Drug Deactivation System Works
The Deterra Drug Deactivation System consists primarily of a simple pouch that is filled with pills and tap water, providing a non-toxic, organic, and safe alternative for proper disposal of unused, unwanted and expired medications. In a simple 3-step process, residents deactivate drugs by putting them in the Deterra pouch, adding warm water, shaking, and then throwing them away in the household garbage.
DCHD will be issuing medium-sized Deterra pouches that can deactivate up to 45 pills.
“Public Health 3.0 is about meeting residents where they are," said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon. “Not only do these pouches reduce the potential for abuse of opioids, safely destroy unwanted drugs, and help protect the environment they reduce barriers by helping residents skip the trip to drug drop off box locations.”
The Deterra pouches help protect the environment by preventing pharmaceutical drugs from contaminating water supply and landfills. Critically, the Deterra pouches and awareness postcards help destigmatize substance use disorders, reminding residents of resources for help in the county, and reducing avenues for drug abuse and addiction.
"The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is a powerful tool in our fight against the drug overdose epidemic," said Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. "It provides a discreet, effective way to dispose of unused medications, helping to destigmatize substance use disorders while supporting individuals and families impacted by this crisis."
Don’t Ditch! Deactivate
Recipients are urged not to dispose of these pouches before they can be used. If there is no immediate need for their use in the home, please store and save them for later use. The pouches do not have an expiration date. Residents who receive but do not want to keep these pouches are asked to share them with family members or neighbors who can use them.