Safe, 24-hour lobby collection box for unused, unwanted, or expired medications
Unused drugs or over-the-counter medications left in the home can find their way into the hands of children or potential addicts, and in-home disposal methods like flushing down the drain or throwing in the trash can contaminate waterways. Gifford Medical Center has installed a collection kiosk in their main lobby where people can safely dispose of unused or expired medications.
“The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events held in April and October have been very successful in our community and we wanted to provide additional opportunities for people to safely drop off unused drugs,” said Gifford Community Relations Coordinator Bethany Silloway. “We worked with Regional Prevention Partners and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (who is helping with disposal), and received funding from the Vermont Department of Health to bring the kiosk into our main lobby, offering people a safe and accessible collection box 24-hours a day.”
Unused medications that are collected include:
- Over-the-counter medications
- Prescription medications, patches, or ointments
- Vitamins
- Medication for pets
- Medications in liquid form (if tightly capped)
Silloway stressed that Gifford staff and volunteers cannot be involved in the collection process—individuals must bring medications in a bottle or sealed plastic bag (no loose pills) and place them directly into the MedDrop kiosk.
Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the U.S, and drug overdose has become the leading cause of injury deaths. Safely disposing of unwanted and expired medications is one way we can all help reduce the public health and environmental damage unwanted drugs can bring to our community.
