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By: Associated Press  & Tom Murphy   Associated Press Associated Press Published January 19, 2018

Walmart is helping customers get rid of leftover opioids by giving them packets that turn the addictive painkillers into a useless gel.

The retail giant announced Wednesday that it will provide the packets free with opioid prescriptions filled at its 4,700 U.S. pharmacies.

The small packets, made by DisposeRX, contain a powder that is poured into prescription bottles. When mixed with warm water, the powder turns the pills into a biodegradable gel that can be

thrown into the trash.

It works on other prescription drugs and for pills, tablets, capsules, liquids or patches, according to DisposeRx.

About 4 million Americans are addicted to prescription painkillers, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The agency says these drugs are often obtained from friends and

family who leave them in home medicine cabinets.

Research has shown that surgery patients often end up with leftover opioid painkillers and store them improperly at home. Authorities say opioid painkillers should be kept in their original

packaging and locked inside a cabinet, out of the reach of children.

Painkiller maker Mallinckrodt PLC has a similar program. Some drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens also collect unused medications at many of their stores.

Unused prescriptions also can be thrown into the trash. But the U.S Food and Drug Administration recommends mixing them first with something unpalatable, like kitty litter or used coffee

grounds, and sealing the mixture in a plastic bag.

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