Drop Off Old Meds: Nationwide Prescription Drug Disposal Day

Wondering what to do with all those old prescription medications? This Saturday, April 30, 2011 will mark the second time that the DEA will host the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. On this day, people can drop off their unused and expired medication at one of over 4,700 collection sites around the country.

The Dangers of Keeping Old Meds

Homes of elderly people are especially prone to having medications lying around that are either expired or leftover from the treatment of a previous ailment. These unused medications present a hazardous situation by simply sitting in the medicine cabinet, where they can be accidentally ingested or intentionally abused.

This dilemma is complicated by the fact that it is difficult to safely dispose of prescription drugs. Two of the most common methods of prescription drug disposal, flushing down the toilet and throwing away, are ineffective solutions to the problem of unused pills. Flushing is detrimental to the environment, and people can simply go trash-picking to recover medication that has been thrown-out.

Where to Take Your Old Medications

To find a prescription drug collection site near you visit http://www.justice.gov/dea/ and bring your unused and unwanted medication to that site between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this coming Saturday.

Source: agingcare.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today! If you live in West Bloomfield Township or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.