Five Reasons to Take Back Your Unused Medications at Saturday’s Take Back Event

If you are like most people, you have unused medications in your home. Prescriptions that you no longer need to take. Over-the-counter medications past their effective dates. Half-empty bottles that are just taking up space.

But that’s not all they are doing. They can pose a real danger in many households with children who often can open the “child-proof” bottle better than many adults or where the threat of prescription drug abuse is possible.

1. Child safety – Take a look at many medications and you will see how much they look like candy. ExLax in its chocolate form is a perfect example. Sudafed looks like cinnamon red hots. Any coated tablet can look like a coated candy like M&M’s.

2. Reducing confusion on which medication is current and correct. This is especially important for older adults who may take a few different prescriptions during the day. Accidental overdose can happen when dosages are changed, or a new prescription is introduced that is not compatible with another prescription. Take back those that are no longer needed.

3. Reducing the risk of prescription drug abuse – Prescription drug abuse is very prevalent. If you are sharing your medications with others and that medication is not prescribed to that individual, it can be very harmful. Do not share. Pain killers, sedatives, and stimulants can be highly addictive and can also find their way into being sold on the street.

4. Avoiding environmental hazards – According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who sponsors these events nationwide, more than 780,000 pounds of unused and unwanted drugs were collected across the nation during the 2014 spring collection alone. Over the past four years, these take back events have collected an extraordinary 4.1 million pounds. And if we just throw this bottle in the trash or just flush these few down the toilet… 2,213 tons of prescription and over the counter medication in our water supply is an environmental nightmare to be avoided.

5. Making sure that what’s left in the medicine cabinet is exactly what is needed.  It’s time to take stock. Cold and flu season is just around the corner and fall allergy season is in full swing. Inventory what you have. Check the expiration dates and avoid taking those that have passed their effective dates. Pull out everything you do not use and take them for disposal.

GRMC and the Grinnell Police Department are working with the US DEA on this take back event on Saturday, September 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grinnell Public Safety Building. Just drive up and hand the items over for safe disposal. They don’t have the capability to accept syringes, needles, or lancets, however. Any pills, powders, capsules either prescription or over-the-counter will be taken.