Prescription Drugs.
Responsible use, storage and disposal.
Many people struggle with prescription drug addiction. We can all help keep homes, workplaces and communities safer by handling commonly abused drugs responsibly. If you have questions about prescription use or abuse, start by asking your prescribing physician or pharmacist.
RESPONSIBLE USE
Only use prescription medications as directed by a healthcare professional.
Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone else’s prescription medications.
Always store your medications securely to prevent others from taking them, and properly dispose of medications that you no longer need.
Check the expiration dates of your medications.
Be a good example to those around you by modeling these safe medication-taking practices and discussing the dangers of misusing prescription drugs with your family, friends, colleagues, students, or patients.
If you have any questions regarding your prescription, you should consult the prescribing physician and your pharmacist.
RESPONSIBLE STORAGE
Store your prescription medications in secure locations such as:
Lock-boxes
Medication safes
Or other lockable spaces
Avoid storage places where children and others can easily access, such as:
Drawers
Nightstands
Or kitchen cabinets
RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL - DROPBOX
The misuse of prescription drugs, most often obtained from the medicine cabinets of family and friends, is a significant problem across our nation. The simple step of ridding your home of old and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications can greatly reduce the chances of misuse and promotes a safer community. The pharmacy inside CVS Kingsdale hosts a permanent medication disposal box. Drugs can be dropped off year-round during the pharmacy’s operating hours with no questions asked.
Accepted items:
Prescription medications*, over-the-counter medications*, liquid medication bottles (*in original packaging if possible)
Items that cannot be accepted:
Thermometers, Needles (sharps), Medication/medical waste from businesses or clinics
CVS Kingsdale Pharmacy
3282 Tremont Road
Pharmacy and drop box hours:
9 am to 1:30 pm, 2 to 8 pm Monday – Friday
10 am to 1:30 pm, 2 to 6 pm Saturday – Sunday
Visit http://rxdrugdropbox.org/ to find other locations in the Central Ohio area.
RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL - HOME
If you can't get to the community dropbox or scheduled take back near you, you can dispose of your prescription medications safely at home by using a Deterra Bag (get one for free by mail here) or by following these steps:
STEP 1:
Remove pills from bottle and mix them with undesirable substances such as kitty litter or coffee grounds. You can mix them in a plastic ziploc or sealable freezer bag.
STEP 2:
Throw away the sealed mixture into the trash.
STEP 3:
Remove the prescription label along with any personal information from your prescription packaging and dispose of the empty bottle in your recycling bin.
There is a small number of medicines that may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal with just one dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed. To prevent accidental ingestion of these potentially dangerous medicines by children, or pets, it is recommended that these medicines be disposed of quickly through a medicine take-back program or by transferring them to a DEA-authorized collector. If these disposal options are not readily available, it is recommended that these medicines be flushed down the sink or toilet as soon as they are no longer needed.
Click here for a list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.
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Information and statistics courtesy of the Cardinal Health Foundation, the OSU College of Pharmacy, the U.S. FDA and Generation RX. If you have any additional specific questions regarding your prescription medications, you should consult your physician or pharmacist or you can contact Generation RX at 614.292.2266 • info@generationrx.org
