VCU news

By Cynthia McMullen

Members of VCU School of Pharmacy’s Alpha Delta chapter of Phi Delta Chi will volunteer with the Henrico Police Department on Oct. 26 to offer safe drug disposal in conjunction with the seventh National Take-Back Initiative.

The fall edition of the semi-annual event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Henrico Public Safety Building, 7721 E. Parham Road in Henrico. Students in the School of Pharmacy’s Phi Delta Chi pharmaceutical fraternity began working with Take-Back in 2010, the year the effort was launched.

“Each year PDC participates in Take-Back because it serves as a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription medications,” said Jessica Parker, Phi Delta Chi worthy counselor (president). “In addition, fraternity brothers are able to educate the general public about the potential for abuse of medications as well as the hazards to the environment caused by inappropriate drug disposal.”

Sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the National Take-Back Initiative is also known as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. It was created to raise awareness about proper drug disposal as well as to afford the American public a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unneeded, unused and expired prescription drugs that can be potentially dangerous if kept in the home.

According to the DEA, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from friends and family. Having unused and expired drugs in the home also can result in accidental poisoning and overdose. Throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet – possibly releasing them into the water supply – can pose serious health and environmental hazards, as well.

At the last Take-Back event in May 2013, more than 5,800 locations across the country collected more than 370 tons of medications, free and anonymously. More than 1,400 tons of prescription medications — pills, tablets, capsules, liquids, inhalers — have been collected since the Take-Back Initiative began.

On Oct. 26, drug disposal centers will be operated at the following Richmond area locations. Many locations offer drive-through, drop-off service:
•  Social Service Center, Southside Plaza lobby area, 4100 Hull Street Road, Richmond (Richmond Police Department)
•  Virginia State Police Division Headquarters, 9300 Brook Road, Glen Allen (Virginia State Police)
•  Social Service Center, East End Community Center parking lot, 701 E. 25th St., Richmond (Richmond Police Department)
•  Defense Logistics Agency parking lot, 8000 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond (Defense Logistics Agency)
•  West Creek Emergency Center, 12720 Tuckahoe Creek Court, Henrico (Goochland County Sheriff’s Office)
•  Ashland Police Department parking lot, 601 England St., Ashland (Ashland Police Department)
•  Mechanicsville Transfer Station, 7427 Verdi Lane, Mechanicsville (Hanover County Sheriff’s Office)
•  Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield (Chesterfield County Police Department)

To check for other drug disposal locations near you, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

To dispose of unneeded, unwanted, unused and expired medications safely and properly at home, remember, crush, don’t flush.

Flushing drugs can create health and environmental hazards. Tossing drugs into the trash is also potentially dangerous, as they could be consumed and/or abused by anyone who finds them. Following are tips for safe in-home disposal:
•  Remove medications from containers. If medication is solid, crush and/or add water to dissolve it. Pour into container with lid or into sealable plastic bag.
•  Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds – anything that will make it less appealing to pets and children. For added safety, you may place plastic bag in another sealable container.
•  Seal plastic bag and/or put top on container. Drop into trash.
•  Remove or cover all identifying personal information on original medication containers before disposing of them, as well.

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