Take your unused, unwanted medications to collection site tomorrow

Take-Back drug events to help consumers safely dispose of expired or unused medications are being offered throughout the country Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Consumers with unused or expired medications can check the DEA’s website to find collection sites in their communities. 

Drugs can be disposed of anonymously at the sites.
 
Prescription painkillers – often stolen and abused – are helping fuel an overdose epidemic in America.

Disposing of medication also is causing environmental problems. With more and more medications being flushed down the toilet, measureable levels of them are being detected in groundwater and drinking water. The filtration systems in sewage treatment plants aren’t able to remove medications.

I’ve been wondering for some time how to get rid of old medications. When I asked my pharmacist, he said to put them in a tuna fish can, put the can in a plastic bag, disguise the can, and put it in a garbage can where teens or others wouldn’t be looking for drugs. It didn’t seem like a very good method to me.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and other government, community, public health, and law enforcement organizations are sponsoring the drug collection events.