Whereas rising fentanyl-related overdose deaths and decreasing opioid prescribing rates have been seen nationally, Tennessee is a state that still has high opioid prescribing and a high prescription opioid-related overdose death rate. In response, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee helped fund Count It! Lock It! Drop It!, a community-based prescription opioid misuse program that was implemented in several hard-hit counties in 2016 and has now expanded to all counties in the state and to other states. 

This comprehensive program has the ultimate goals of reducing access to and increasing perceived harm of prescription opioids, and uses a multifaceted approach including: safe storage and disposal, public awareness and education, and supporting drug take-back days and drop boxes. In regard to decreasing misuse, the initiative advocates for counting your prescription opioids regularly, safely locking up your pills, and dropping off any unused medication promptly.

The Count It! Lock It! Drop It! model emphasizes a grassroots approach as the team works with a diverse group of stakeholders in different communities, such as doctors, pharmacists, schools, and business leaders. This bottom-up approach is able to tap into anti-drug coalitions and other community leaders to spread the message about drug take-back days and drop boxes. The health insurer supports the initiatives primarily by providing resources for messaging and marketing. 

This program model has been highlighted in the report here and featured in the news articles here and here. A self-reported evaluation has been done on the program here and a presentation with contact information can be found here.