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Fox 28 reports that ABC 6 On Your Side is teaming up with Columbus Public Health on a drug drop off program. We’re collecting old or expired medicines – even vitamins.
Many of us have outdated or unused medicines in our homes. We keep them for future use or simply forget about them after an illness. But that can lead to some serious problems.
Bob and Helen Formet are 95 years old. Their daily routines includes a variety of pills and vitamins. Helen keeps track of the expired ones, and it works for them, but it’s not for everyone.
Richard Hicks, the program manager of Environmental Protection and Sustainability from Columbus Public Health, says unused medicine can fall into the wrong hands.
“It could be a risk in terms of use by teenagers and adults. It could also be a problem where you take the wrong medication, or too much of the same medication or medication that’s simply too old to work in the way it is supposed to,” Hicks said.
Kayla Durkin, a pharmacist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, says younger children can also be at risk.
“I think the CDC estimates that 70,000 children come to the emergency department every year for accidentally taking grandparents’ medication or their parents’ medication. So it’s really important to keep them up and in a secure location and out of reach of children,” Durkin said.
Here are the details on the ABC6/FOX 28 and Columbus Public Health drop off event:
It’s Wednesday, April 22, at Columbus Public Health on Parsons Avenue, between 10am and 2pm.
Officials will be accepting prescription pills, over the counter pills, patches, pet meds and vitamins.
They are not accepting things like liquids, needles, thermometers or inhalers.
