Council approves $60,000 for direct-mail opioid disposal pouches

The Ledyard Town Council voted unanimously to appropriate $60,000 from its opioid settlement funds for a townwide distribution of Deterra drug-disposal pouches as part of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership “Prevention Starts With You” initiative.

A representative of the prevention program described the package and evaluation plan to the council, saying the pouch “is capable of deactivating and disposing of up to 45 pills” and that the campaign pairs the pouch with messaging and a QR-code survey to measure use. The program team said the mailing model will deliver roughly 6,300 kits to households and reserve about 500 for community distribution at town halls, fire stations and outreach events.

Councilors asked about cost breakdowns and long-term availability. The presenters said the $60,000 covers the full program cost — packaging, bulk postage and program support — and estimated a postage bulk rate of about $0.55 per piece. They also said the program keeps an anonymous survey to track reported disposal and that, in other rollouts, roughly 90% of households that received a pouch used it quickly in pilot studies cited by the provider.

Council members discussed alternatives and distribution logistics — including maintaining a town supply at municipal locations and continuing drug take-back days — but the motion’s sponsor said the direct-mail model reduces stigma and increases participation. The measure passed on a 7–0 roll call.

The council directed follow-up tracking and to report back on utilization so the town can decide whether to order additional pouches from the same fund.