Crane Pharmacy Participating In National Drug Take Back Day This Month
|
October 4, 2018
|
|
Isaac Estes-Jones
Turn in your unused/expired medication for free, in a safe, anonymous disposal day on Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeland Pharmacy in Crane and other surrounding areas.
This event is being held as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) National Take Back day. “Don’t be the dealer,” information from the program reads. “You could be a drug dealer and not even know it. 53% of misused prescription drugs come from family and friends.”
Prescription drugs, especially pain killers, are at a high risk of being misused, even when they were prescribed to you by a doctor. This is because unused portions of the prescriptions can find their way into the hands of children or other family members, who run the risk of becoming addicted and developing a substance use disorder. Unused prescriptions can also ccidental poisoning and overdose.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 75% of heroin users report using prescription pain relievers prior to heroin.
So, on Saturday, October 27, residents are encouraged to dispose of their unused and/or expired prescriptions at one of several locations, including Lakeland Pharmacy in Crane.
Other locations in the Stone and Taney County areas include the Lakeland Pharmacy in Branson West, at CoxHealth pharmacy in Branson, Family Pharmacy in Hollister, Country Mart in Forsyth and at the fire department in Bradleyville.
There is a permanent medication disposal located in the Stone County Sheriff’s Office.
Regional participation is sponsored by Sink or Swim DrugFreeOzarks.org, the Stone County Community Health Coalition, CoxHealth, Lakeland Pharmacy, Family Pharmacy and Country Mart, among others.
Only prescription medications will be accepted at these locations. No Schedule 1 drugs (i.e. marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc) will be accepted at any drug take back event. Further, no prescription drugs obtained illicitly should be turned in at these events.
Asthma inhalers and insulin syringes also cannot be accepted during the October 27 event. The disposal box at the Stone County Sheriff’s Office does not accept sharps either.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources controls the disposal of household generated sharps (e.g. insulin syringes). In Missouri, it is legal to dispose of sharps in the trash, as long as you follow these guidelines: prior to placing sharps in the trash, place them in a thick walled, puncture resistant container with a tight fitting cap, like a laundry detergent bottle and tape across the lid. The Mo. DNR suggests contacting your trash service prior to disposing of sharps with this method. Some doctor’s offices and other medical facilities also accept outside sharps, but those facilities should be contacted individually.
According to the DEA, the most recent National Take Back Day, in April 2018, led to over 940,000 pounds (over 400 tons) of medications turned in across the country at 5,842 collection sites.
Turn in your unused/expired medication for free, in a safe, anonymous disposal day on Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeland Pharmacy in Crane and other surrounding areas.
This event is being held as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) National Take Back day. “Don’t be the dealer,” information from the program reads. “You could be a drug dealer and not even know it. 53% of misused prescription drugs come from family and friends.”
Prescription drugs, especially pain killers, are at a high risk of being misused, even when they were prescribed to you by a doctor. This is because unused portions of the prescriptions can find their way into the hands of children or other family members, who run the risk of becoming addicted and developing a substance use disorder. Unused prescriptions can also ccidental poisoning and overdose.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 75% of heroin users report using prescription pain relievers prior to heroin.
So, on Saturday, October 27, residents are encouraged to dispose of their unused and/or expired prescriptions at one of several locations, including Lakeland Pharmacy in Crane.
Other locations in the Stone and Taney County areas include the Lakeland Pharmacy in Branson West, at CoxHealth pharmacy in Branson, Family Pharmacy in Hollister, Country Mart in Forsyth and at the fire department in Bradleyville.
There is a permanent medication disposal located in the Stone County Sheriff’s Office.
Regional participation is sponsored by Sink or Swim DrugFreeOzarks.org, the Stone County Community Health Coalition, CoxHealth, Lakeland Pharmacy, Family Pharmacy and Country Mart, among others.
Only prescription medications will be accepted at these locations. No Schedule 1 drugs (i.e. marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc) will be accepted at any drug take back event. Further, no prescription drugs obtained illicitly should be turned in at these events.
Asthma inhalers and insulin syringes also cannot be accepted during the October 27 event. The disposal box at the Stone County Sheriff’s Office does not accept sharps either.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources controls the disposal of household generated sharps (e.g. insulin syringes). In Missouri, it is legal to dispose of sharps in the trash, as long as you follow these guidelines: prior to placing sharps in the trash, place them in a thick walled, puncture resistant container with a tight fitting cap, like a laundry detergent bottle and tape across the lid. The Mo. DNR suggests contacting your trash service prior to disposing of sharps with this method. Some doctor’s offices and other medical facilities also accept outside sharps, but those facilities should be contacted individually.
According to the DEA, the most recent National Take Back Day, in April 2018, led to over 940,000 pounds (over 400 tons) of medications turned in across the country at 5,842 collection sites.