NC startup DisposeRX teams up with gov’t to fight opioid epidemic

SANFORD – A North Carolina startup is working with the federal government in its fight against the current opioid epidemic.

DisposeRX, a drug disposal company based out of Sanford, recently signed a deal permitting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to offer its at-home drug disposal packets to veterans as a “simple solution” to dispose of their medications after they are no longer needed.

As individuals who experience high rates of chronic pain ― 65% of veterans over a three-month period, and 40% greater in veterans than non-veterans―a significant number of them receive prescriptions for opioids. It also makes them uniquely vulnerable to misuse of leftover medications.

“After obtaining our eco-friendly solution, veterans will have an easy-to-use, convenient option for drug disposal, reducing the likelihood of misuse and addiction,” veteran John Holaday, PhD, chairman and CEO of DisposeRx, said in a statement.

The startup reached the agreement with Government Marketing and Procurement (GMP), a contract management firm based out of Texas.

According to the VA, veterans experience fatal accidental overdoses at nearly twice the rate of the general population of adults. About 68,000 veterans had opioid use disorder in 2015, a threefold increase over the prior 12 years, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

“We are committed to the veteran population and the military, and we’re very happy that we are now offering another tool through the VA and GMP’s contract to help combat opioid misuse in this group,” Holaday said. “They’ve served our country, and we’re honored to help them in return.”

DisposeRx packets contain a blend of patented and proprietary solidifying materials that provide a safe solution for the disposal of unused or expired medications. When water and the DisposeRx powder are added to drugs in the prescription vial and shaken, the drugs are dissolved and then chemically and physically sequestered in a viscous polymer gel made from materials that are FDA approved for oral medications.

The company, founded by Holaday in 2015 and re-incorporated in North Carolina in 2017, also produces a podcast series about the opioid epidemic to help continue to raise awareness about opioids and addiction.

DisposeRX bases its headquarters in Southern Pines and its business office in Sanford.