RAPID drug disposal scheme to be rolled out nationally

The Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs (RAPID) initiative is to be implemented across Northern Ireland. That's after successful trials in the Belfast and South Eastern Health Trusts. The programme sees specially sited disposal bins placed in public places to help members of the public get rid of unwanted medications and drugs.

After the success of a piloted version of the scheme in selected trusts there are plans to roll out the RAPID programme nationwide, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA).

It's designed to help remove illegal as well as prescription drugs from our streets through specially designated bins.

RAPID has been described as "the latest in a wide range of co-ordinated action across agencies to reduce harm from the misuse of drugs."

With only 14 bins in existence so far  (in the Belfast, South Eastern and Northern Health and Social Care Trust areas) some 65,000 tablets were disposed of during the pilot scheme.

The PHA say of that amount over 90% of the drugs collected were prescribed drugs.

Start 360, Northern Ireland's leading youth services support provider, who run a drugs and alcohol intervention service in Omagh called the DAISY (Drugs and Alcohol Intervention Service For Youth) project welcomed the move to implement the initiative across the province.

"It's extremely important that these [bins] are rolled out right across Northern Ireland, which is why we've welcomed [this news]," said Zoe Anderson, Communications Officer for Start 360.

"We feel it's important that people in all communities have access to safe ways to dispose of both prescription drugs and illegal drugs," she added.

The PHA, in partnership with the PSNI, say they'll work closely with organisations and groups on the ground in the coming months in order to "identify who may benefit from taking part" in the programme. 

It's also expected that both police and health experts will help local Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Teams plan for putting the new bins in the correct areas across different health trust catchment areas.

"The locations of these new RAPID bins are vital," says Zoe Anderson, on the thinking behind installing the purpose-built disposal sites.

"People would often feel very uncomfortable about disposing of drugs in, say, a pharmacy or whatever. But if you can go to somewhere that's a very neutral, very discreet location - then that's really really helpful," she says.

PHA officials intend to roll out the initiative fully across all five health trust areas by the end of the year 2017. And hope their efforts can raise greater awareness over the misuse of drugs.