September 12, 2019
Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined with Riverton
City, Intermountain Riverton Hospital, and the Utah Opioid Task Force this morning
to announce a local solution to the state and national opioid epidemic.
The opioid crisis is a widespread, community issue. It
affects every family, community, and city. Unfortunately, deaths from opioid
overdose in Utah now surpass deaths caused by firearms and vehicles. One of the
best ways to start addressing this epidemic is in the home. Medicine cabinets
are often filled with unused and expired medications that can easily be taken
and abused.
To address this issue, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs introduced
a new cost efficient, eco-friendly medication disposal program using NarcX.
This safe, easy-to-use liquid solution dissolves pills, tablets, capsules,
liquids and patches immediately on contact, making them non-retrievable. A proprietary
blend of ingredients allows even coated time-release capsules to quickly
disintegrate and become neutralized, and indigestible properties prevent any
attempt at abuse. Large, blue boxes containing NarcX will be placed at
locations throughout Riverton in order to encourage the disposal of unused,
unwanted, and expired medications. Bottles of the solution can also be
purchased from select pharmacies in Riverton and can be placed in the home as
an on-site option for safe and convenient destruction of medicines.
In addition to this new program, the Utah Attorney General’s
Office partners with the DEA for Take Back Day each year. Unused and unwanted
medications are collected across the State of Utah in an effort to prevent drug
addiction and overdose deaths. In the last three years this initiative has been
done in Utah, 90,000 pounds of medications were collected.
“We are all vulnerable to the opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Reyes. “Today is the day to make a difference. Let’s take back as many of these unused, unwanted medications as possible.”
Media coverage:
KUTV: New Initiative Aims to End Opioid Crisis in Utah
Fox 13: Drug Disposal Bins in Riverton Will dissolve Pills On-site
KSL TV: Riverton Introduces ‘Solution’ to Pill Disposal: NarcX
KSL: Riverton Offers Kiosks for Residents to Safely Dispose Opioid, Drugs
ABC 4: Opioid Crisis Solution? Riverton Partners with NarcX to Dissolve Away Unwanted Medications
Deseret News: Riverton Offers Kiosks for Residents to Safely Dispose Opioids, Drugs
KSL News Radio: New Drop Boxes in Riverton Aim to Fight the Opioid Crisis
KJZZ: New Initiative Aims to End Opioid Crisis in Utah
Univision 32: Nuevo Plan Para Combatir Opioides