Avoid poisonings and accidental overdose by disposing of old medication
BATH –With the semi-annual “Prescription Drug Take Back Day” three weeks away, the Steuben Prevention Coalition Opioid Committee (SPCOC) reminds local residents of National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day set for Friday (Apr. 15).
“It’s an ideal time to sort through and safely dispose of those unwanted medications,” said Opioid Committee Program Assistant Connie Terry. “Timely disposal of unwanted medications, especially prescription medications, can reduce the risk of others taking the medication accidently or misusing the medication intentionally.”
Terry reported 1.34 million calls are made to poison centers each year with 49 percent of those calls are for children. Some 2,500 teens begin abusing prescription drugs each day while medication mistakes are among the biggest causes of accidental injuries involving senior citizens.
Unwanted or unused prescriptions may be taken to the “Drug Prescription Take Back” collection from 10 am – 2 pm Apr. 30 at the county Public Safety Building, 7007 Rumsey St. Ext., in recognition of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)’s national campaign, she said.
Other options include taking unwanted medications to a local medication drop box or using disposal packets available by request at pharmacies.
