Rates and correlates of medicine disposal program implementation at pharmacies in North Carolina: A longitudinal study, 2016-2021

Unused prescription opioids from family and friends continue to be the primary access point to prescription opioids for nonmedical use among youth. Implementation of medicine disposal boxes at pharmacies is one approach to facilitate removal of unused prescription opioids from the home to prevent diversion. We sought to examine the implementation rates of disposal boxes at pharmacies in North Carolina from 2016 to 2021 and place-based health disparities in availability.