Program offers safe disposal of prescription medications

ThisWeek CW 04/12/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2012/04/10/program-offers-safe-disposal-of-prescription-medications.html

Concerns about drinking water safety and prescription drug abuse have prompted Canal Winchester’s participation in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

“This is our second time participating in this program; last year was our first one,” Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Kirk C. Kern said. “Deputy (Jason) Meadows was responsible for setting it up in conjunction with the city and the Diley Ridge Medical Center.”

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 at the Diley Ridge Medical Center parking lot, 7911 Diley Road.

“This will be a drive-thru type setting where all you need to do is drop your unwanted prescription drugs and continue on your way,” Canal Winchester Mayor Michael Ebert said.

Kern said the drop-off is focused on people who have excess medication for any reason.

“This is an outreach community service project for people who want to do the right thing and get rid of medications in the correct manner,” Kern said. “No questions will be asked and we’ll dispose of it properly.”

Diley Ridge Medical Medical Center president Jodi Wilson said this program is important to reducing prescription drug abuse.

“Studies show that prescription drug abuse is often tied to medications from family and friends, including those readily available in home medicine cabinets,” Wilson said.

According to a 2009 national survey on drug use and health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. The Partnership for a Drug Free America reports 2,500 teens abuse prescription drugs each day.

“By getting rid of the old medications, it alleviates the possibility of a family member getting hold of it and using it inappropriately, so this event helps prevent things like that,” Kern said. “We’ve seen some increases in Canal Winchester in that area of abuse, as well.”

Steve Smith, Canal Winchester’s water reclamation manager, said flushing prescription drugs down household drains is a safety concern.

“There is a growing concern of the impact of pharmaceuticals in wastewater and how they affect the fish and wildlife in the streams and rivers in the areas where we live,” Smith said. “This unused prescription collection effort goes a long way in raising public awareness towards this issue, as well as helping to take some of the vast amounts of unused medications out of our landfills.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the agency recognizes the effect of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment as an important area of research and provides guidance for the proper disposal of prescription drugs.

“We hope everyone will take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of their expired and unwanted medications,” Ebert said.