NKY drug pouch initiative aims to stop drug abuse before it starts

Josh Cobb's addiction didn't start with heroin.

"When I was about 16, I started rooting through my parent's prescription drugs," the 28-year-old recovering addict said. "That progressed through the years and led to heroin."

Which last September lead to a relapse after nearly two years of sobriety. An overdose left Cobb nearly dead. His recovery would be a long one including surgeries and physical therapy, but he would live.

"I'm so glad to be here alive," he said. "I want to share my story and help others, that's part of my recovery."

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For Cobb that recovery involves looking for ways to prevent others from dipping into their parent's medicine cabinet for that initial high. Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that nearly half of young people who inject heroin surveyed in three studies reported abusing prescription opioids before starting to use heroin.

Cobb shared his story at the March 23 launch of Spring Clean Northern Kentucky. This is an initiative to help Northern Kentucky residents safely dispose of any expired or un-needed medications, especially opioid pain medication and other narcotics.

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A total of 6,000 biodegradable drug disposal pouches are available for free at more than 30 locations in Northern Kentucky.

"Just as drug addiction often begins in the medicine cabinet, our spring cleaning needs to start there as well," said Rep. Addia Wuchner (R-Boone County), who spearheaded the initiative said. "Medication disposal pouches are safe, effective easy to use and provide one more option to protect our communities by making sure that unused prescription pain medications and narcotics are disposed of safely and are not accidentally or intentionally misused."

The pouches were donated by Mallinkrodt Pharmaceuticals and use patented technology to neutralize the active ingredients in opioid painkillers and other drugs in pill, liquid and transdermal patch forms. Using the pouches, individuals can safety dispose of medications at home.

For a list of locations distributing the free pouches, visit www.nkyhealth.org.