PLATTSBURGH, NY – Clearing medicine cabinets of expired, unwanted and unused prescriptions can prevent medication misuse, abuse and diversion while protecting the environment according to University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Outpatient Pharmacists who are encouraging a “spring cleaning” to reduce the risk of misuse and preserve natural resources. 

“Located within our outpatient pharmacy is a secure medication collection bin that can accept all prescription and non-prescription medications. They can be deposited whenever we are open which is 365 days a year from 7 am to 11 pm,” explained CVPH Retail Pharmacy Manager Preston Sellars. The Outpatient Pharmacy is located next to the Emergency Department.

Collected medications are securely transported to a certified incineration plant which meets the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) standards for destruction.  

Prescription drug abuse remains a significant issue in the United States according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. “Studies have shown that a majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. And we know that tossing unused meds in the trash or flushing them is bad for our environment,” Sellars said. “Taking an inventory on a regular basis of the medications and discarding all the outdated or unused items is a good idea. You can just bring them to us for proper and safe disposal.” 

Since the installation of the CVPH Outpatient Pharmacy collection station in 2018, patients and families have deposited over 6,700 pounds of medication helping to keep the community safe.