Headlines
As reported by the New Britain Herald, September 20, 2010.
UConn Health Center to Offer Medication Disposal Saturday
By Scott Whipple
FARMINGTON—Anyone with expired or otherwise unwanted medications is invited to drop them off at the University of Connecticut Health Center Saturday.
The Health Center is holding a free drive-thru medication collection and disposal program at the Medical Arts and Research Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Properly disposing of medications that are expired or no longer of use is a matter of public safety and environmental responsibility,” said organizer John Dobbins, a UConn Health Center pharmacist. “Collections like this ensure that these medications don’t end up in the water supply or in the hands of anyone other than their original intended user. Dropping off your old meds is quick and easy and you don’t even have to get out of your car.”
Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a coordinated effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement, public health and community officials to remove potentially dangerous prescription drugs from the community. All medications should be in their original bottle, packaging, or container, with any personal information on the label crossed out with a permanent marker, including expired, no longer used, or otherwise unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Other items include ointments, inhalers, vitamins, veterinary medicines, and medications from deceased family members. Unknown tablets or capsules also will be accepted.
Some federal guidelines for proper disposal of prescription medications are available at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/prescrip_disposal.pdf.
Needles, medical waste or thermometers will not be accepted.
More information about the collection at the UConn Health Center is available by calling (860) 679-7627.
To get to the Medical Arts and Research building: Entering the campus from Route 4, turn left at the first stop sign. It is the second building on the right. Directions to the UConn Health Center are available at http://www.uchc.edu/directions/home.html.