Drug Firm Donates Opiod Deactivators to Rockland Hospital

SUFFERN, NY — With the opioid epidemic still running rampant in the Hudson Valley, State Senator David Carlucci and Good Samaritan Hospital announced a new initiative designed to promote a cleaner, safer method of destroying unused opioid medications.

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical will donate 7,500 deactivation pouches that can be a helpful resource, Carlucci said.

“Everyone from doctors and law enforcement to patients themselves have to be partners in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Promoting resources, like these pouches which are available to health practitioners, that can be helpful in any way are good tools to have in the community. As a result of this partnership with Good Samaritan and Mallinckrodt, we can help encourage patients who are prescribed medications with opioids dispose of them in a cleaner and safer way,” Carlucci said at a press conference about the donation.

The initiative was announced by Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), Dr. Mary P. Leahy, CEO, Bon Secours Charity Health System, Steven Seeberger, Director of Pharmacy Services, Good Samaritan Hospital and Julian Malasi, Director, Government Affairs & Advocacy Relations, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

"As a company focused on the health and well-being of our patients and communities, Mallinckrodt has long been a strong advocate of addressing the complex issues of opioid misuse and abuse that cause so much harm to families," Mark Trudeau, Mallinckrodt President and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. "We share the concerns of parents across the nation, and believe that providing patients with a safe, environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused medications is critical in this fight against prescription drug abuse," added Trudeau. “Mallinckrodt is committed to working with health care providers, policy makers, community leaders, law enforcement and industry partners to ensure the responsible use of pain medication and prevent unused medications from ending up in the wrong hands."

Several members of the Good Samaritan medical staff and representatives of Mallinckrodt were on hand to demonstrate the pouches. Below is a brief description of how they work:

• Sealable pouch contains active carbon
• Patient adds any remaining medications and water to the pouch
• Carbon binds to the active ingredients and breaks the medication down
• Sealed pouch can then be safely disposed of in household garbage

“We are pleased to accept this generous donation from Mallinckrodt and to partner with Sen. Carlucci on this significant initiative for our community,” Leahy said. “Giving people a convenient, safe way to dispose of their medications is prevention at its best. By reducing the numbers of unused medications in our medicine cabinets, we create fewer opportunities for those medications to be abused. And we are very hopeful that this initiative will serve to continue the community conversation on saving lives.”

Good Samaritan and Carlucci’s office will be distributing the pouches throughout the community. For more information, please call Carlucci’s office at (845) 623-3627

Last month, according to the New York Times, Mallinckrodt settled an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission into anti-competitive practice over a very expensive drug it manufactures, H. P. Acthar Gel, which costs $38,000 a vial.

PHOTO: State Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), Dr. Mary P. Leahy, CEO, Bon Secours Charity Health System and Julian Malasi, Director, Government Affairs & Advocacy Relations, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals/ contributed