http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/medicine-disposal-event-takes-unwanted-expired-medication-your-hands_11863.mp3
It’s been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure—that saying holds true for drug addicts, too, and it’s one reason why experts say you shouldn’t just toss your old medication in the trash can. But what do you do with any leftover medicine once you don’t need it any more? KSMU’s Jennifer Moore has the details of a local event that will take your old medicine and dispose of it properly.
The rise in prescription drug abuse has led some people to sift through others’ medicine cabinets looking for pills to get high on. Others take it a step further and go through neighbor’s trash in search of old medication.
These are just a couple of reasons why the Community Partnership of the Ozarks is teaming up with several agencies to host two medication “take back” events, where the public can drop off any unwanted medicine.
Katie Scott of Community Parnership is helping organize the event.
“They can bring any kind of prescription drugs, or over the counter medications that are old or expired. The only thing we won’t be able to accept are intravenous solutions, anything that is injectible, and syringes—we can’t actually take those back,” she said.
Scott said the organizers also welcome pill-form capsules and liquid capsules, as well as pet medicine.
She added that washing the pills down the drain or toilet isn’t always ideal, since it might be an environmental hazard.
Both medicine take back event will take place next Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
One will be in the Cox North Hospital parking lot at 1471 N. Benton Avenue, and the other will be at Fassnight Park, 1300 S. Campbell, in the northwest parking lot. There is no cost to the public for the medicine disposal program.
In 2010, Springfield Public School children from 6th grade to 11th grade took part in the Missouri Safe and Drug Free Schools survey. Almost one in eight said they have used prescription medication that was not prescribed to them by a doctor.
The most common place addicts report getting prescription pills is from someone else’s medicine cabinet.For KSMU News, I’m Jennifer Moore.