Qlarant Foundation Grant Boosts NADDI Program to Reduce Drug Abuse

The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) joined the family of Qlarant Foundation grantees for 2024 when the Foundation awarded them a $20,000 grant to continue placing drug drop boxes in key locations across the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

NADDI connects innovative people with great ideas and vital training in current pharmaceutical drug diversion trends. Unfortunately, these cabinets have become a source for drug seekers— including young individuals—leading to theft and misuse from a readily accessible supply. NADDI’s drug drop boxes are a preventive solution adopted by law enforcement agencies across the country. In 2011, NADDI initiated a practical initiative aimed at significantly reducing the surplus of expired or unnecessary prescription drugs found in household medicine cabinets.

Shockingly, prescription drugs have become the primary substance of abuse among America’s 12–17-year-olds, with much of this supply unknowingly originating from the medicine cabinets of their relatives and acquaintances. Increasingly, responsible adults recognize the necessity of restricting access to these substances and are seeking effective, legal, and safe avenues to do so.

NADDI’s drug drop boxes have proven to be a preventive solution adopted by law enforcement agencies across the country, effectively keeping unused medications away from unauthorized hands and curbing addiction before it takes hold. By preventing addiction, we can enhance the well-being of individuals and bolster the health of our communities.

“Qlarant’s support would be instrumental in placing drug drop boxes in the Eastern Shore region,” said Charles Cichon, NADDI Executive Director. “This contributes to the ongoing effort of safeguarding against substance misuse. Disposing of drugs safely is one way to prevent misuse. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose.”

Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment according to the Drug of Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The grant funds are earmarked for the placement of drug drop boxes across Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties. Collectively, these three counties have an estimated population of 189,000 individuals. As per information from the DEA and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy websites, there is currently only one drug drop box in Talbot County, and two in both Wicomico and Worcester Counties. Recognizing that the distance someone needs to travel to dispose of medications properly directly impacts the likelihood of disposal, NADDI is aware that the greater the distance, the lower the probability of proper disposal. This situation increases the risk of medications falling into unauthorized hands.

“At present, there are no sustainability requirements, continued Cichon. “The NADDI drug drop box program, inaugurated in 2011, has successfully installed 548 boxes across the United States. Remarkably, up until the submission of this grant in January 2024, there hasn’t been a need to replace a single drop box, underscoring the durability and effectiveness of the existing installations.

“We are pleased to provide a grant to NADDI,” said Qlarant Foundation Board Chair Lamont Thompson, PT. “They are so closely aligned with our mission and much of the work that we do at Qlarant. These boxes are a concrete, rubber-meets-the-road approach to reducing drug abuse.”