Prescription Drug Take Back Event Keeps Community Clean
Fall, just like Spring, is a great time to do some cleaning at home. It always feels refreshing to do a good deep clean and get rid of some clutter.
One of those cluttered places might be your medicine cabinet with old or unused prescription medications.
But think twice before you swipe those orange bottles into a trashcan or flush the capsules down the drain.
Not disposing of medications properly can lead to misuse or ground water contamination, which is why groups in Marshfield have partnered to host the upcoming Prescription Drug Take Back Event.
“The partnership includes Ground Water Guardians of Marshfield and Milladore, Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach, Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth, and Marshfield PD,” said Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza. The event is also sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Gramza said the benefits of the event are twofold.
“Ground water guardians began this initiative due to trace amount of chemicals related to prescription drugs being found in the ground water. The benefit of this collection had an unintended benefit of taking pharmaceuticals out of the hands of drug seekers by cleaning out our community members’ medicine cabinets,” he said.
Taking part in this event is really a win, win. Residents can help protect the ground water and also help prevent people from misusing old prescription drugs.
“If the meds are stockpiled, they are at risk for theft or individuals getting them who they are not prescribed to. If flushed or thrown in the garbage, there is risk of ground water contamination,” Gramza said.
However residents that are participating need to be aware that some items will be accepted and some that will not. Below we have included the dates for the Take Back event and also a list of the accepted items.
While this concept seems pretty simple, the take back events (there is also usually a spring event in April) have had a large impact on the community since they began in 2010.
To date, Gramza said the group has collected over 10,000 pounds of prescription drugs.
If you can’t participate in the event, the Marshfield Police Department will also accept them during normal business hours.
Friday, October 21, 2016 • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center – Main Lobby
Saturday, October 22, 2016 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shopko – Marshfield location
Accepted
• Prescriptions (controlled and non-controlled)
• Creams
• Liquids (must be in original containers)
• Needles/Sharps
• Non-aerosol sprays
• Ointments
• Over-the-counter medications
• Patches
• Pet medications
• Vial
Not Accepted
• Aerosol cans
• Bio-hazardous materials (bodily fluid or blood)
• Household hazardous waste
• Illegal drugs
• Inhalers
• Mercury thermometers
• Oxygen tanks/nebulizers
• Personal care products
• Radioactive cancer medications
