Opioid task force leads charge to create drug disposal bag network

WASILLA — A push is on across the Mat-Su to properly and safely dispose of unused, unwanted and/or expired prescription drugs at no charge.

Andy Jones, Alaska health and medical duty officer and member on the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force, along with other task force members, have teamed up to establish a network of locations where the public can pick up the drug disposal bags. So far, those bags are available at more than two dozen locations throughout the valley, including pharmacies.

Among those onboard are Walgreen's (locations statewide), Three Bears throughout the Mat-Su, Algone Pain Clinic, Capstone Urgent Care along with 17 of its providers, and Geneva Woods Pharmacy. Additionally, a number of Valley support agencies including MyHouse, Fiend2Clean, and Fallen Up Ministries have signed up as distributors. Organizers are talking to additional national food and drug chains to expand the program even further.

The waterproof, biodegradable bags contain active carbon. Unneeded prescriptions can be placed in the bag along with a small amount of water. The carbon and water interact to neutralize any contained medications. The bags can then be sealed and disposed of with no threat of leeching drugs into the environment, especially water tables. Here in the Mat-Su, the borough assembly is considering to allow or prohibit the spreading of biosolids on Valley lands. Biosolids are the leftover product from wastewater treatment facilities. The topic locally, is a contentious one.

Opponents site the fact that more and more pharmaceuticals are beginning to show up in the septage leftovers and that treatment plants cannot at present, remove them from the process. Burning the drugs also places contaminants in the air, studies show. Using carbon to deactivate the drugs also makes them inert.

This winter, Green informed the task force that Alaska was able to secure 25,000 drug disposal bags.

"We will be expanding the program," Jones said. "We had 25,000 bags to start and we have 15,000 left. The state was awarded a federal grant that will supply funds to continue purchasing the bags for the next few years."

The other part of the state's fight on the growing nationwide opioid epidemic, distribution of free Narcan (naloxone) doses, is also growing. To date, there are more than two dozen locations where individuals can receive brief training and access Narcan kits that contain two doses of the drug which can immediately reverse the effects of heroin and opioid overdoses. Green said starting Monday, Alaska's "Project HOPE" (Hold on Pain Ends) web page will include an interactive map showing the growing number of locations to pick up the bags. A map showing the locations to pick up Narcan kits is already up and running. The website's address is http://www.opioids.alaska.gov/

The state's Department of Health and Social Services is encouraging eligible organizations to apply as Narcan and drug disposal bag locations. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to: public health centers, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, community and faith-based organizations, social service agencies, substance use treatment programs, shelters and transitional housing agencies. To learn more about the program, or apply, contact Project HOPE@alaska.gov