Keith Srakocic, Associated Press
People throw unnecessary medications into a trash can as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative, Saturday, April 28, 2018, at the Allegheny County Police Department in McCandless, Wash. Pennsylvania. A release from the county said this year’s event involves people disposing of controlled pharmaceutical substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction.
One in four people take three or more prescription medications, but many do not dispose of their medications properly once they finish taking them.
On National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, October 28, the public can drop off leftover prescription medications at several locations across the state, including pharmacies and law enforcement agencies.
Nicole Chaus, regional director of pharmaceutical accessibility at Optum, said it was important to get rid of unused medications for many reasons, including the fact that some patients need to be readmitted to hospital within 30 days of being discharged. discharged because they mismanaged their prescriptions.
Prescription medications should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Often, medications are taken incorrectly or someone picks up an old bottle lying around that may have been prescribed incorrectly, she said. Many people will also have leftover painkillers in the cupboard that anyone visiting the house can steal. It is really best not to store prescription medications when they are not currently needed.
On pick-up day, all prescription medications can be taken to a local drop-off site, including pills, patches and liquids, Chaus said. Unused pet medications can also be disposed of this way.
If you have needles, you will need to get a Sharps needle box. Once the box is full, the lid will lock when closed, she said. You cannot take the needles to a drop-off point, but there should be instructions on the box about where you can take them once they are full.
For anyone taking medication in patch form, Chaus advised folding the patch in half so the side that sticks to your body isn’t exposed, then placing it in a plastic bag. Some of these medications include fentanyl, lidocaine, and nicotine patches.
Chaus said she also recommends people remove the label from the medication bottle so personal information is not exposed.
It’s also a bad idea to flush leftover medications down the toilet, throw them in the trash, or throw them in the trash.
Flushing medications can pollute our water supply and some of these chemicals can dissolve and enter water, lakes and streams, she said. And people and animals can get the medications if you throw them in the trash, leading to potentially dangerous situations.
To find a drop-off location near you, go to www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
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