Supply-Limiting Ecoslide-RX PackageRecognized by National Association of Chain Drug Stores
Newark, NJ –Keystone Folding Box Co., a designer and cGMP manufacturer of paperboard packaging solutions, has received an award from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores for aLimited Opioid Dose version of its Ecoslide-RX blister package.
Selected as the NACDS Total Store Expo Product Showcase winner in the“Pharmacy Operations, Equipment and Services” category, the solution also exemplifies the types of prescription-limiting, product theft-averse solutionscalled for in theOpioid Crisis Response Act, which passed the U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support on September 17.
In the run-up to the bill, blister packages were highlighted as useful tools in fighting both overprescribing of painkillers and their subsequent abuse.Keystone’s modified, customizable version of itsEcoslide-RXprescription blister package isdesigned to limit dosages, discourage pill theft and improve dispensing safety.
Earlier iterations of the Ecoslide-RX blister package have been recognized by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council of Europe (HCPC-Europe). Prominent contract Packager Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging currently has high-speed lines dedicated to filling prescription drugs in Ecoslide-RX blister packs.
The lower dose count Ecoslide-RX was introduced in response to efforts by the FDA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) to implement product packaging changes that deter opioid abuse. In an effort to combat dependency and overdoses, the design of the Ecoslide-RX allows doctors to prescribe smaller quantities of opioid medication via limited days of dosing presented in blister packs.The packaging also provides numerical identification of each dose, eliminating the possibility of pill-count errors.
Major benefits of Keystone’s original Ecoslide-RX package also are incorporated into the opioids prescription package. The pack includes a re-closable locking featureoffering consumers a safe yet streamlined experience. Child-resistant (F=1) yet senior-friendly, Ecoslide-RX is also versatile by design, meaning itcan be adjusted to accommodate patients with dexterity issues. Additionally, the blister pack’s broad format allows for pictographs and larger texts on all sides for easier patient instruction and accessibility.
Per its name, Ecoslide-RX also is eco-friendly: Comprised of 100% recyclable paperboard, the packaging separates easily from its internal blisterfor easy recycling.
“We are so pleased that the potential of Ecoslide-RX to help curb opioid abuse was recognized with the NACDS award,” said Ward Smith, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Keystone. “With the Senate passage of the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, we believe our product will go a long way toward supporting the pharmaceutical industry’s goal of combatting this ongoing epidemic.”
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About Keystone Folding Box Co.
While Keystone continues to be a leader in the manufacturing and design of paperboard packaging, they are also a design center and source for non-paperboard packaging components. To learn more about Keystone Folding Box Company, please contact Ward Smith at Keystone Folding Box Company, at (513) 871-4747, ward.smith@keyboxco.com or visit www.keyboxco.com.
