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Effect of Drug Disposal Bag Provision on Proper Disposal of Unused Opioids by Families of Pediatric Surgical Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

  • 56% of families who only received standard postoperative discharge instructions on opioid safety reported proper opioid disposal compared to 72% of families who received a drug disposal bag and the standard postoperative discharge instructions.
  • 20% increase in the rate of proper opioid disposal with the provision of a drug disposal bag.
  • Higher than expected rate of opioid disposal among families that did not receive a disposal bag suggests that standardized, multimodal, opioid related education provided to families of surgical patients does impact disposal rates.

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Lawrence AE, Carsel AJ, Leonhart KL, et al. Effect of Drug Disposal Bag Provision on Proper Disposal of Unused Opioids by Families of Pediatric Surgical Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatrics. 2019 Aug;173(8):e191695. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1695. PMID: 31233129; PMCID: PMC6593625