Paris Regional Medical Center announced today it has established a convenient medication take-back program for easy disposal of leftover, unused and out-of-date prescription and over-the-counter medications.
In an effort to help reduce the risk of drugs in the home that can potentially harm children, teens or adults, Paris Regional has set up a secure, safe drop-off location in its lobby at 865 DeShong Dr., open to the public 24/7.
“We want to provide the folks in our community with the safe, secure opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and make their homes and communities safer,” said Hiral Patel, PharmD, BCPS of PRMC.
Unused medications in the home are a source of drug abuse in millions of homes, with the opioid crisis in the United States fueled in part by that availability: More than 70 percent of young people abusing prescription pain relievers get them through friends or family, including raiding the family medicine cabinet.
Overall, 22,000 people die each year from misuse of prescription drugs.
“We want to remind people that they should not flush drugs down the toilet. Traces of drugs can appear in community drinking water. Our drug disposal unit, which is easily accessible in the pharmacy, is a great answer to that problem and it’s simple to do. All they do have to do is come in, look for the big green receptacle and take it from there. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.”
Steve Hyde, CEO said there are some things that can’t be taken in the receptacle, such as inhalers and needles, but pharmacy staff will be on hand to help determine what to do in such an event.
Paris Regional Medical Center partnered with Inmar to manage this drug take-back program.
Paris Regional recognizes the importance of providing a community safe place to dispose of unused medication in order to maintain the safety of our households and environment.
