OHIO, USA — Safely get rid of unused medication this Saturday as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Locations around Ohio and Michigan will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to accept pills for proper disposal. The service is free and anonymous.
“Keeping medications past their usefulness can be dangerous because time can change how some medications work,” Lori Criss, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services said. “Medications that you no longer take or that have passed the expiration date on their labels should be disposed of promptly and properly.”
Find a drop-off spot in your area by search on the Take-Back Day website. Sites will accept most pills and patches. They cannot accept liquids or needles.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health has shown that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.
Methods traditionally used to dispose of drugs, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can pose potential safety and health hazards.
“Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by removing unused medications from your home,” added Ursel J. McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. “National Prescription Take-Back Day provides a convenient and safe way to do so.”
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and is held twice each year.
If you are unable to visit a collection site on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the departments recommend these tips for safe disposal:
- Contact your pharmacy. Tell your pharmacist the name of the medications that you wish to dispose of and ask about the most appropriate means of disposal;
- Follow any specific disposal instructions on the package or Drug Facts labels of non-prescription medications;
- Do not flush any medications down the sink or toilet or throw them in the trash unless the package or your doctor or pharmacist specifically instructs you to do so;
- For medications that can be thrown in the trash, mix them with an undesirable substance, such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds, then place the mixture into a sealable bag, bottle or container;
- Do not crush tablets or capsules that will be thrown in the trash; and
- For medications that cannot be flushed or thrown in the trash, check with local pharmacies, law enforcement agencies, or trash and recycling providers about medication disposal guidelines and options such as drop boxes in your community.
Visit the Ohio Department of Aging website for additional medication tips and resources for older adults.
