WithdrawnNot Applicable

Safe Return and Disposal of Unused Opioids

Stopped: this is an observational project and doesn't not meet any of the four criteria required for listing on clinical trials.gov

0Started 2017-12-01

Plain-language summary

The opioid epidemic in the United States has become a clear health and safety concern for our children and families. Opioids given to our patients for the treatment of pain that go unused after the immediate post operative period pose a major hazard when left in the home unattended. Opioids can be accidentally ingested by small children or deliberately ingested by pre-teens and adolescents leading to major morbidity and or death. Additionally, studies have shown that many people addicted to opioids/narcotics have become so due to ingestion of medically prescribed drugs. Finally, there has been an increase number of home robberies specifically with the intent to steal prescription drugs. Removal of unused medication from the home is an important public safety concern to protect our patients, families and friends. The Sharps Co (R), offers a product called Takeaway Medication Recovery System. This product allows individuals to put unused opioids in a pre-paid envelope which is returned to the company through the postal system and properly incinerated. This provides safe disposal in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the water table from contamination by drugs disposed of my other means. This system through the Sharps Co would allow for de-identified tracking of returned drugs.

Who can participate

Age range

64 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients being prescribed opioids at discharge in the Clinical Care Center/Wallace Tower Surgical Center or at the Woodlands Campus who have undergone a surgical procedure. Exclusion Criteria: * Parental Refusal to participate Patients not being prescribed opioids for discharge Patients on chronic opioid therapy/chronic pain patients International patients returning abroad (these takeaway envelopes are only paid through the 50 US states, DC and Puerto Rico)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

% of prescribed unused opioids returned

Timeframe: six months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03352479

SponsorBaylor College of Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-06-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Opioid Use trials