Unused and expired medicines can potentially end up in the wrong hands and lead to accidental poisonings. In fact, medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisonings in the U.S. and simply throwing these substances in the trash or flushing them down a drain can result in harm to the environment.
That’s why Parkland Health & Hospital System, the North Texas Poison Center and local law enforcement agencies are joining together in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26 in the parking lot of Parkland’s Simmons Ambulatory Surgical Center, 4900 Harry Hines Blvd., in Dallas. The event is free and open to the public.
“Communities across the United States will be taking part in this event and raising awareness on the potential for abuse of prescription medications,” said Mike Yudizky, public health educator with the North Texas Poison Center, based at Parkland. “This one-day effort brings together community entities as well as law enforcement to help battle the common problem of what to do with unused or expired medications.
Yudizky said there are several reasons why people should safely dispose of unused, expired and unwanted medications and offers advice on proper storage of medications in the home:
- Unwanted medications can be tempting to children and pets, and can result in unintentional poisonings
- Expired medications are often ineffective because they have been kept past their expiration date or improperly stored.
- Unused medications can make your home a target of theft by drug abusers.
- Dispose of medications properly. Do not keep prescription medications around “just in case.”
- Inventory your medicine cabinet and other places you store your medicines.
- Safely store the medicines you use by keeping them out of reach. Store medicines in a locked cabinet or medicine lock box.
- Always use the child-resistant medicine cap – and remember child-resistant caps are not childproof.
In addition to the unintentional poisoning risk of unused and expired medications to individuals, there’s also an environmental issue. Emma Donachie, Parkland Waste Stream Coordinator, said that when drugs are flushed down a drain or into trashcans, they can contaminate waterways and landfills.
“Contaminants from medications can leach into the soil and water and affect the health of humans and other species, as well, which can then impact people,” Donachie said.
During the event individuals can drive into the parking lot and hand medications to a law enforcement officer, no questions asked.
No intravenous materials, such as solutions or syringes will be accepted at the event.
For more information about the event, visit www.parklandhospital.com/DrugTakeBack
For more information about the proper way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications, contact the poison experts at the North Texas Poison Center, 1.800.222.1222.
