Wind can’t blow away locals looking to Dump the Drugs

Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Valley Central: This Spring's Dump the Drugs event included firetrucks and local youth singers.

By Brooke Curley

brooke@gilavalleycentral.net

SAFFORD – It was a music festival with food and drugs but it wasn’t what you might be thinking.

The annual Dump the Drugs event at the Thatcher Home Depot on Saturday included a request to “bring the grub” to benefit local food banks.

It was a breezy Saturday, but that didn’t stop multiple individuals in the community from attending the event, which was created by Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition to aid the community by helping properly dispose old or unnecessary medication. Proper disposal of prescription medications, especially opiates, helps avoid the drugs getting into the wrong hands, creating drug addicts or polluting the water supply.

The Dump the Drugs event is also a resource for local families, and local organizations were there to explain their services as well, including advising of the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how they effect a person.

One of the newer additions to the Dump the Drugs event was the musical performances of local children, teenagers and college students. Reverend Sherry Brady said she appreciated the chance for the local youth to perform.

“We’re having a blast,” she said. “We’ve got something here for the kids to do, to play; free games. This whole thing is family oriented and that’s what the whole purpose was. It’s a good venue for the local kids to be able to perform, to give confidence and to be appreciated.”

The entire event was centered on the youth and included several first responders, such a the Thatcher Fire Department and its ladder truck, EMS services and more.

Drug Disposal Guidelines and Locations

The following guidelines were developed to encourage the proper disposal of medicines and help reduce harm from accidental exposure or intentional misuse after they are no longer needed:
Follow any specific disposal instructions on the prescription drug labeling or patient information that accompanies the medicine. Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.

Take advantage of programs that allow the public to take unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Call your local law enforcement agencies to see if they sponsor medicine take-back programs in your community. Contact your city’s or county government’s household trash and recycling service to learn about medication disposal options and guidelines for your area.
Transfer unused medicines to collectors registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Authorized sites may be retail, hospital or clinic pharmacies, and law enforcement locations. Some offer mail-back programs or collection receptacles (“drop-boxes”). Visit the DEA’s website or call 1-800-882-9539 for more information and to find an authorized collector in your community.

If no disposal instructions are given on the prescription drug labeling and no take-back program is available in your area, throw the drugs in the household trash following these steps:
Remove them from their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter (this makes the drug less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through the trash seeking drugs).
Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the drug from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.

Scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.

Do not give your medicine to friends. Doctors prescribe medicines based on your specific symptoms and medical history. Something that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.

When in doubt about proper disposal, ask your pharmacist.

 

Source: www.fda.org 

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