Opioid Addiction in Arizona

Opioid addiction is a global pandemic, and RxDisposal is committed to helping people everywhere know how to dispose of prescription drugs. This video comes from Arizona Central, and showcases three stories of people who are trying to overcome their opioid addiction.

Arizona is trying to battle opioid addiction and the Arizona legislature unanimously approved the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, which Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law on Jan. 26. The plan to curb opioid overdoses includes funding to expand access to addiction treatment, and tighter regulation around dosages and initial prescriptions. Source: Tucson Local Media

Arizona has one of the highest averages for opioid prescriptions, at 70.2 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people—higher than the national average of 66.5 prescriptions per 100 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past six months alone, 5,512 possible opioid overdoses were reported, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. New regulations also limit new opioid prescriptions to an initial five-day maximum. Research shows that opioid dependence sharply increases on the sixth day of consecutive use.

Between June 15th and October 27th in 2017, more than 400 opioid-overdose deaths were reported in Arizona.

Data suggests the following about opoiod addiction:

• Men ages 25 to 29 are at the highest risk of opioid overdoses.
• Most overdoses occur at home.
• 37 percent of people suspected of experiencing an overdose were prescribed an opioid less than two months earlier.
• Chronic pain is the most cited symptom in people who experience a suspected overdose.

 How to Dispose of Prescription Drugs in Arizona

Medicines play an important role in treating many conditions and diseases, but when they are no longer needed it’s important to dispose of them properly to avoid harm to others. This is a list of locations where you can dispose of prescription drugs in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Health Services also has an interactive map.

If you are in Arizona, you can also contact your local pharmacy or clinic and ask if they are working with RxDisposal as a solution for medication disposal. Contact us for details on how you can help. 1.800.307.2514