Verde Technologies Announces In-Home Alternative to Sept. 26 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Events

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- This Saturday, September 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in most states, marking the reintroduction of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program that encourages people to remove old prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets and drop them off at community sites to be safely disposed. For residents who cannot participate in their community take-back event, Verde Technologies provides the Deterra Drug Deactivation System, a scientifically proven way to safely deactivate and dispose of prescription drugs at home.

Verde also works closely with law enforcement agencies and other community sites to safely deactivate and dispose of large quantities of drugs they receive during take-back events, and in between events.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation System works by using Molecular Adsorption Technology (MAT₁₂™), to neutralize the active ingredients in opioid painkillers and other drugs in pill, liquid and transdermal patch forms. The Deterra System is a self-contained package containing MAT₁₂, a proprietary activated carbon that bonds to pharmaceutical compounds when water is added, rendering the drugs ineffective and safe for disposal quickly in any setting – home, community, clinic or hospital. The Deterra packages can then be put into the household trash.

Drug use overdose death rates have more than tripled across the U.S. since 1999. Since 2010, more Americans have died from drug overdoses than from any other cause of unintentional injury, including motor vehicle accidents. The prescription drug problem often starts in our own homes where leftover medications sit on shelves or in medicine cabinets, where children, adolescents and visitors have easy access. It's estimated that 70 percent of prescription opioid abusers obtain drugs from friends or family.

"We wholeheartedly support the DEA's efforts to remove all unneeded and unwanted prescription drugs from the home, and we're excited about the ways the Deterra Drug Deactivation System can work with communities and law enforcement to do this," says Jason Sundby, Verde Technologies chief executive officer. "We can help families across the country take it several steps further – not only removing leftover drugs from cabinets, but actually deactivating them and ensuring safe, convenient disposal that does not negatively impact our water, landfills or air and makes our homes and environment safer."

Law enforcement and community organizations are also turning to the Deterra System to safely deactivate and dispose of prescription drugs they collect during take-back events. For example, in Cole County, Mo., the sheriff's department collected 36,000 prescription pills during their Operation Take Back event earlier this month – and, for the first time, they used the Deterra System to dispose of them.

Deterra partner ACT Missouri, a drug use prevention organization, provided the sheriff's department with Deterra System packages for the event.

"In June, the Jefferson City Police Department was forced to end their drug take-back program because they ran out of room to store prescription drugs and had nowhere to safely dispose of them as incineration was deemed an environmental hazard," says Natalie Newville, ACT Missouri public information officer. "Deterra is literally a life-saver, providing a new, cost-effective solution for law enforcement to deactivate and dispose of leftover prescription drugs at any time. Thanks to Deterra, the Cole County Sheriff's Department was able to reinstate the take-back program and permanent drop boxes, and successfully collected and disposed of 36,000 prescription pills during their recent event."

Alabama's Department of Justice is also distributing Deterra to its residents from select take-back sites throughout north Alabama during the state's 10^th annual event on Saturday.

The Deterra System is available for purchase at www.DeterraSystem.com in a package of three starting at $19.98 plus shipping. Law enforcement, community organizations and others interested in bulk orders, please contact [email protected] or 612-568-1128.

About Verde Technologies
Minneapolis-based Verde Technologies is a privately-owned company committed to developing research-based, scientifically proven solutions to reduce drug abuse, misuse and negative environmental impact. The Deterra Drug Deactivation System is powered by patented MAT₁₂ Molecular Adsorption Technology, which deactivates prescription drugs using proprietary activated carbon. The technology is highly effective in adsorbing and firmly binding pharmaceuticals, rendering them inactive and ineffective for misuse and safe for the environment. For more information or to order, visit www.DeterraSystem.com or follow @deterrasystem on Twitter.

SOURCE Verde Technologies