Created on Friday, 14 March 2008 10:45
Contact: Collette DuValle, 317-373-2391
Clarian Health, Indiana Poison Center, Marsh and local health groups partner to host “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day”
Free event will provide safe and environmentally-friendly way to get rid of expired and leftover prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines
WHAT: On “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day” (Thursday, March 20), community partners are collecting expired and unwanted medications in hopes of reducing the risk of medication confusion and accidental poisonings.
WHEN: Thursday, March 20 from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
WHERE:
Medication can be dropped off at the following sites:
All 41 Marsh pharmacies
Marion County Health Department, 3838 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205
COST: No cost
DETAILS: Do you need to clean out your medicine cabinet? As part of National Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22, 2008), Clarian Health, the Indiana Poison Center, Marsh Pharmacies, the Marion County Health Department, Statewide Medical Services, the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance, and the Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are partnering to provide “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day” on Thursday, March 20 from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
On “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day,” central Indiana residents will have the opportunity to drop off their expired or unwanted medications at a variety of convenient locations including any of Indiana’s 41 Marsh pharmacies and The Marion County Health Department (3838 North Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN). The community partners involved in coordinating this event hope to collect at least 500 lbs of unwanted or expired medicine.
“We are collecting expired and unwanted medications in hopes of reducing the risk of medication confusion and unintentional poisonings,” says Barbara Cole, poison prevention coordinator for the Indiana Poison Center at Methodist Hospital.
During this event, individuals will be able to safely dispose of medications that meet the following criteria:
- Pills, capsules and liquids (no needles, inhalers, sharps, or aerosols)
- Medicine must be in original container with original label intact
- Medicines that have the words “toxic,” “corrosive,” “reactive” or “ignitable” on them will not be accepted
- Only one type of medication can be in a single container – no mixtures
- No pill organizers will be accepted.
- No controlled or illegal substances (check with your regular pharmacist if you’re not sure whether a medicine is controlled)
Participants must be over the age of 18 to take part in this event.
National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) is recognized during the third week in March each year. NPPW is a week nationally designated to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them.
For more information about “Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day,” please call Barbara Cole at 317-962-9248. To contact the Indiana Poison Center call 1-800-222-1222 or visit www.clarian.org/poisoncontrol.
