Does your medicine cabinet have expired, unused, or
unwanted medications? You now have an opportunity to properly dispose of those
prescription or over-the-counter medications. In a true community partnership,
Grinnell Regional Medical Center and the Grinnell Police Department will
participate in the National Take Back Initiative on Saturday, April 28. Anyone
may bring in medications for safe, proper disposal between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
the Spring Street side of the Grinnell Public Safety Building, 1020 Spring St.
This national initiative provides an easy way to clean
out medications not needed or wanted in a home. There is no cost for disposal.
“This partnership between the police department and
GRMC provides a simple process to safely dispose of any medication,” explains
Corey Wilson, GRMC pharmacist. “From the medical center’s perspective, this
program removes the potential for expired and inappropriate medications to be
consumed in a home. It’s good for patient safety and it’s good for the
environment.”
The medications that are brought in during this
one-day national blitz will be incinerated. This is considered the safest
manner to dispose of medications. In October 2011, the Department of Justice
reported that 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications were disposed.
“We will have curb-side drop off so an individual may
simply drive up and hand the unwanted medications in for disposal,” explains
Dave Menninga, detective with Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force. “There’s no reporting,
no inventory taken. It’s anonymous. We are providing the opportunity for anyone
to remove unwanted medications from the home.”
GRMC will have two pharmacists available at the
collection as well as Officer Menninga. This program is free.
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