MEDICATION STEWARDSHIP CenterEvery prescription tells a story. It begins with a diagnosis, a trusted recommendation, and a patient determined to get better. But the story doesn't end when a medication is dispensed. It encompasses every step of a medication's journey—from appropriate use and patient education to safe storage and responsible disposal. That’s medication stewardship
Through a growing collection of thought leadership, and practical insights exploring the future of community pharmacy, patient safety, caregiving, and healthier homes, our goal is not simply to share ideas, but to inspire meaningful conversations that improve lives and strengthen communities.
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Op-Ed 1: Pharmacists Are Providers. It's Time Washington Caught Up.
By William M. Simpson, President & CEO, DisposeRx, Inc.
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Op-Ed 2: Closing The Medicine Cabinet Gap With Prescription Medication Safety
By William M. Simpson, President & CEO, DisposeRx, Inc.
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Op-Ed 3: Safe At Home - A Public Health Initiative
By William M. Simpson, President & CEO, DisposeRx, Inc.
MEDICATION DISPOSAL RESEARCHScience that supports safer disposal
Peer-reviewed research and third-party studies confirm the safety, simplicity, and effectiveness of in-home drug disposal.
Perelman School of Medicine in Journal of the American Medical Association
Mailing medication disposal kits to patients increased safe opioid disposal by an average of 62%.
Shriners for Children in Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
Providing patients with packets, education materials, and awareness boosted medication disposal to a 92% disposal rate.
Making an impactExplore how DisposeRx is working with pharmacies, healthcare leaders, and communities to build safer homes and healthier communities .
DisposeRx Supports Caregiver Month and AARP Family Caregiver Pit Stops with Medication Safety Resources
DisposeRx, Inc., the leader of in-home medication disposal, is supporting AARP’s Family Caregiver Pit Stops this fall with DisposeRx medication disposal samples and educational resources designed to help caregivers and families better understand medication safety and reduce preventable risks in the home
Can You Throw Prescription Medication in the Trash?
Millions of Americans keep unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications in their homes. While throwing medications directly into the household trash may seem like a convenient solution, improper disposal can create unnecessary risks for children, pets, families, and communities.
Understanding how to safely dispose of prescription medications is an important part of protecting your household and practicing responsible medication stewardship.
Why Every Prescription Deserves a Safe Ending
We tend to think about prescriptions as transactions. A medication is prescribed. It is dispensed. The patient takes it. But the reality of our medication journeys is more complicated than that.
Medication therapy changes as patients and their healthcare needs change. Dosages are adjusted. Prescriptions are replaced. Acute conditions resolve. Chronic conditions evolve. Patients move between hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities and their homes.
Each transition can change what medication a patient should be taking. Yet the medications that are already inside the home do not automatically change with the treatment plan. That distinction matters, because the risks can be significant.
The Medicine Cabinet Crisis
This is not simply a conversation about medication disposal. It is a conversation about Medication Safety and completing the prescription journey. And perhaps the best place for any of us to begin this conversation is inside our own medicine cabinets.
DisposeRx and CARE Pharmacy Network Partner to Expand Medication Safety Solutions for Independent Pharmacies
The DisposeRx Singles program includes individually packaged DisposeRx packets paired with patient education, allowing pharmacies to merchandise medication disposal as a simple retail solution that fits seamlessly into existing workflow.
Back to School and Dose Changes
Physicians typically have an increase in ADHD prescriptions during August and September as students prepare to return to the classroom. New prescriptions can mean different doses or formulations as students grow and adapt to their new classroom environments.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology recommends not saving medication after it is no longer prescribed; instead discarding unused medication using proper disposal procedures.
Deprescribing Is an Important Beginning. Medication Stewardship Is the Future.
For generations, American healthcare has measured success by getting patients started on the right medication. We have invested tremendous resources in diagnosing disease, prescribing appropriately, manufacturing medications safely, dispensing them accurately, and improving adherence. These efforts have transformed modern medicine and improved countless lives.
Yet one important question has received far less attention: What happens after treatment ends?
ExpressRx Launches Medication Safety Initiative with DisposeRx Singles in All 26 Retail Locations
The initiative is designed to do more than provide patients with an easy disposal solution—it also helps raise awareness about an often-overlooked medication safety issue. Many families are unaware that any unused or expired medications left in the home- not just opioids- can increase the risk of accidental poisoning, intentional misuse by family members or visitors, and accidental ingestion by children and pets.
DisposeRx Applauds FDA Action to Expand In-Home Opioid Disposal Options
DisposeRx, a leading provider of medication disposal solutions, today welcomed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) call for public input on standards for in-home opioid disposal products. The Request for Information is an important step toward reducing the volume of unused prescription opioids in American homes, part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis.
Free Resources
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![DisposeRx Patient Engagement Postcard]()
Printable Patient Engagement Card
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![Safer medication disposal resources.]()
Provider FAQs
