Personal opioid drug deactivation and disposal systems.

Assembly Member Wallis's proposal to establish a statewide opioid disposal program would create a new system for California residents to safely deactivate and dispose of unused prescription and illicit opioids. The State Department of Public Health would oversee the distribution of portable drug deactivation systems designed to render opioids permanently nonretrievable and nonabusable.

The department would develop evidence-based guidelines for using the disposal systems and create an online portal where individuals can request them. The United States Postal Service would deliver the systems directly to households, along with educational materials explaining proper usage. The program would prioritize distribution to communities experiencing disproportionate impacts from opioid-related issues.

This initiative adds to California's existing opioid response framework, which currently authorizes the department to provide naloxone grants to local health departments and government agencies. While the current system focuses on overdose response through naloxone distribution, this new program addresses the presence of unused opioids in homes and communities through a standardized disposal method. The program's implementation remains contingent on legislative funding appropriation.