Having unused medications lying around can have serious unintended consequences.
On Monday, Oct. 24, TMC for Seniors, in partnership with the Tucson Police Department, will host a Dispose-A-Med event, designed to help the community properly and safely dispose of prescription drugs, as well as over the counter medicines.
Why should you consider turning them in?
- It can be easy to confuse them with medications you’re currently taking.
- Children who are visiting your home may get into them, leading to accidental poisoning.
- Teens who abuse prescription drugs often report obtaining them from friends or the family medicine cabinet.
- Flushing those old medications down the toilet may pollute the water supply, since sewage treatment plants cannot remove all of the contaminants.
- Putting them in the trash may put pets and wildlife at risk.
The drugs will be incinerated in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The drop-off event runs from 10 a.m. – noon at the El Dorado Health Campus, 1400 N. Wilmot Road.
Better yet, if you have questions about medications, come early from 9:30 – 11 a.m. for a Medication Safety presentation from a Tucson Medical Center pharmacist. One-to-one consultations will follow until noon for anyone wanting to discuss their individual medications. Please bring your current medication bottles with you.
Here are a few other tips to participate in Dispose-A-Med:
- Bring your medications in their original bottles to speed up the process. Dispose-A-Med members will remove the labels for you to protect your privacy.
- Liquids, inhalation aerosol bottles, syringes, epi pens and creams are not accepted.
“Medication safety is a serious issue and we’re pleased to play a role,” said Maya Luria, director of TMC for Seniors. “Awareness is critical in minimizing risk, so we’re looking forward to sharing information through our pharmacists, while providing a venue to help our community combat the potential of medication abuse and protect the environment at the same time.”
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