Drug Drop–Off Day to Protect Families and Environment -- 9.24.2015
Media
Advisory
September 24,
2015
Contact
Jose
Rodriguez, 604-5025, [email protected]
Web – Facebook
– Twitter
Columbus Public Health to Host Drug Drop–Off Day to
Protect Families and Environment
Unwanted and Expired
Medicines will be Disposed in Safe, Legal and Earth Friendly Way
WHAT:
Drug collection event for unwanted, unneeded or expired prescription and
over-the-counter pills, patches, vitamins and pet medications. (Liquids of
any kind, gel caps, creams, aerosol cans, needles/sharps, thermometers and
inhalers will NOT be accepted.)
WHO:
Columbus Public Health; Mount Carmel;
Cardinal Health; Columbus Division of Police; SWACO; and, the Drug Enforcement
Administration.
WHEN:
10 a.m.-2 p.m. on
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015
WHERE:
Columbus Public Health
240 Parsons Ave., Columbus
MORE
INFO:
Columbus Public Health is partnering
with Mount Carmel, Cardinal Health, the Columbus Division of Police and SWACO
to collect unwanted, unneeded and expired medications for safe disposal in
order to protect local families and the environment.
Unused medicines are subject to misuse and abuse, with more than 50 percent of
prescription drug abusers getting them from family or friends.
The number of emergency department visits due to medication
poisoning for children under age 5 also increased 30 percent from 2001 to 2008,
and child self-exposure to prescription products accounted for 55 percent of
the emergency room visits.
Additionally, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose
of medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away. Pharmaceuticals flushed down
the toilet can end up in the water system and medicines thrown in the trash can
eventually make their way into ground and surface water.
The
Columbus Public Health drug drop event is part of the Drug Enforcement
Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which features
thousands of collection sites across the country. During last year’s
event, the DEA collected 617,150 pounds (309 tons)
of unwanted medication nationally.
For permanent medication drop box locations, visit RXdrugdropbox.org.
For
additional information, visit Columbus Public Health at publichealth.columbus.gov.
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