The AmerisourceBergen Foundation announced the launch of a municipal support program that aims to promote the safe disposal of opioids by providing communities nationwide with resources to deactivate expired or unused prescription medications.
As part of the program, the AmerisourceBergen Foundation – a not-for-profit charitable organization focused on supporting health-related causes that enrich the global community and the philanthropic arm of AmerisourceBergen Corporation – will distribute drug deactivation resources to municipalities that are actively working to prevent opioid abuse and misuse. The disposable resources use a new technology, which – when combined with water – effectively deactivate opioids, rendering them ineffective for misuse and providing a safe solution for site-of-use disposal.
“The epidemic of opioid abuse demands action, attention and a collaborative approach. The safe disposal of unused prescription medications is a critical component in combating the issue, as it reduces the risk for misuse, abuse and diversion,” said Gina Clark, President of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation who is also Executive Vice President and Chief Communications & Administration Officer at AmerisourceBergen. “At AmerisourceBergen and the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Through this program, we will provide communities with the resources needed to deactivate prescription medications in a safe and effective manner, and help advance their efforts to prevent opioid abuse.”
In order to support the Foundation’s new program, AmerisourceBergen will leverage its network of distribution centers to provide communities across the country with access to the drug deactivation resources.