Customizable Ecoslide-RX packaging design seen as a tool to combat ongoing opioid crisis

Newark, N.J. – Keystone Folding Box Co., a designer and cGMP manufacturer of paperboard packaging solutions, has developed a modified, customizable version of its Ecoslide-RX prescription blister package to address the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic. The updated Ecoslide-RX package is designed to limit dosages in an effort to curb overdoses while providing added benefits for safe dispensing.

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. The pack includes a re-closable locking feature offering consumers a safe yet streamlined experience. Child-resistant (F=1) yet senior-friendly, Ecoslide-RX is also versatile by design, meaning it can 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 blister for easy recycling.

“Ecoslide-RX can revolutionize the manner in which controlled substances are dispensed,” said Ward Smith, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Keystone. “It represents a forward-thinking solution that supports the pharmaceutical industry’s goal of combatting our opioid epidemic.”