Safe Storage and Disposal refers to the management of unused, unwanted, and expired medications in order to protect your family, community, and the environment. There are a variety of ways to practice safe storage and disposal, ranging from locking pill vials to medication deactivation bags.
In order to help our community stay safe, OPEN offers several Safe Storage + Disposal programs designed to get valuable resources into the hands of people who can use them. These programs include the Permanent Medication Disposal Box program, Medication Disposal Pouches program, and the SAFE Storage + Disposal kit program.
The Permanent Medication Disposal Box program allows people to safely dispose of medications within the comfort of their own community. OPEN has helped set up 4 disposal boxes across Michigan and these sites have collected over 1,000 pounds of unwanted medications over the past couple of years.
OPEN’s Medication Disposal Pouches program gives participants cases of medium-sized Deterra Medication Deactivation Pouches. Throughout 2025, organizations partnering with OPEN have handed out nearly 1,300 pouches to people in their communities. These pouches help fill a gap for safe at-home disposal options and allow people to protect their community. One partner commented “Our patients loved them and felt it was a great way to dispose of medications properly. Many patients were unaware of the correct way to dispose of medications.”
Another partner told us “OPEN is a wonderful resource! We appreciate the access to these disposal pouches, as well as Naloxone. These products have filled that need, wrapped it up and put a bow on it!” The OPEN team is excited to see a positive response to this incredible resource.
OPEN’s SAFE Storage + Disposal Kit program, a brand-new combination program this year, will send participants Deterra Medication Deactivation Pouches and Rx Locking Pill Vials. To date, an estimated 800 kits have been distributed to community members this year. One partner shared that the feedback from their community was entirely enthusiastic, saying “They were all positive and appreciative. This [program] was particularly popular among parents with children, who they feared could potentially gain access to dangerous medications.”
Practicing Safe Storage + Disposal of medications can seem intimidating at first, but it is easy once you know what strategies and resources are available for you. OPEN looks forward to continuing offering these services to our community and to do our part in keeping Michigan safe.
Interested in practicing medication Safe Storage + Disposal? Learn more about the initiative and explore OPEN’s free programs here.
