Press Releases and Articles
Sep 24 2010
Johnson City Press (Opinion): Residents should take advantage of take-back drug programs
AS WE SEE IT
Medicine cabinets in many homes are full of unused or out-of-date prescription drugs, but what to do with those old meds? Flushing pills down the toilet is not the ideal way of getting rid of old medicine. Studies indicate that traces of some pharmaceuticals often find their way back into your drinking water.
Sharing those old meds or selling them to others is both unwise and illegal. Leftover pain medications often end up in the illegal drug market. It's important that prescription drugs don't make their way into this pipeline.
Safely disposing of old or unused prescription drugs is of a particular concern to Tennesseans. Forbes magazine recently ranked the Volunteer State No. 2 in the nation for its use of prescription drugs.
That's why U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and others are encouraging state residents to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's first-ever National Take-Back Day on Saturday. Corker is co-sponsor of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, a bill passed by the Senate last month to make it easier for individuals and long-term care facilities to responsibly dispose of unused prescription drugs.
Saturday's event will allow residents to safely dispose of their unused prescription drugs. The Johnson City Police Department will be accepting old meds in a downtown parking lot on Water Street near the intersection of North Roan Street.
A number of pharmacies and health care providers offer take-back programs that help households to safely dispose of drugs they no longer need. The Washington County Anti-Drug Coalition's Operation Medicine Cabinet also hosts a prescription drug take-back event at the Johnson City Seniors' Center.
© 2001-2010 Johnson City Press
Medicine cabinets in many homes are full of unused or out-of-date prescription drugs, but what to do with those old meds? Flushing pills down the toilet is not the ideal way of getting rid of old medicine. Studies indicate that traces of some pharmaceuticals often find their way back into your drinking water.
Sharing those old meds or selling them to others is both unwise and illegal. Leftover pain medications often end up in the illegal drug market. It's important that prescription drugs don't make their way into this pipeline.
Safely disposing of old or unused prescription drugs is of a particular concern to Tennesseans. Forbes magazine recently ranked the Volunteer State No. 2 in the nation for its use of prescription drugs.
That's why U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and others are encouraging state residents to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's first-ever National Take-Back Day on Saturday. Corker is co-sponsor of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, a bill passed by the Senate last month to make it easier for individuals and long-term care facilities to responsibly dispose of unused prescription drugs.
Saturday's event will allow residents to safely dispose of their unused prescription drugs. The Johnson City Police Department will be accepting old meds in a downtown parking lot on Water Street near the intersection of North Roan Street.
A number of pharmacies and health care providers offer take-back programs that help households to safely dispose of drugs they no longer need. The Washington County Anti-Drug Coalition's Operation Medicine Cabinet also hosts a prescription drug take-back event at the Johnson City Seniors' Center.
© 2001-2010 Johnson City Press