Master Your Meds: Taking Charge of Prescriptions in Your Own Home
Proper disposal of prescription drugs continues to be an important issue our coalition pays attention to. Many people are unsure about the right ways to get rid of their expired or unused prescriptions. Forgotten medicines can accumulate in households, and some may opt for flushing or tossing them. This can lead to medicines ending up in landfills, water systems, or in the hands of unintended individuals for misuse or accidental use from children.
Just as important of a reason to be mindful of how you store and dispose of your prescriptions is to reduce the potential for misuse. The 2021 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that 10% of Vermont high school aged youth reported they had misused a prescription pain reliever or stimulant in their lives. Misuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioids and other controlled substances, can lead to addiction, overdose, and other negative impacts on individuals, families, and communities. There were nearly five times the number of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids in 2020 than in 1999. In 2020, almost 24% of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription opioid.
Good News for Vermont
Starting this year Vermont made the safe disposal of unused medication even more convenient. A new pharmaceutical law now mandates that all pharmacies operating in Vermont that have 10 or more establishments across the US must have a prescription drug disposal kiosk for patients to dispose of unused or expired medications.
Our Efforts
BPHC staff went out this summer to all the pharmacies in Burlington to ensure the boxes are available and accessible at every location. It was great to meet all the wonderful pharmacists excited to support this important resource in our community.
Remember the LOCK, DROP, MAIL approach for unused medicine:
Store your medications in a LOCK box or locked medicine cabinet.
DROP off unused medication at a kiosk at your local pharmacy or police station.
Remove personal information from containers.
Place prescriptions in original packaging directly into the kiosk
Put loose pills in a clear Ziplock bag.
Illegal controlled substances and sharps are not accepted at all locations.
Or MAIL unused medication in a pre-paid envelope.
Vermont's Prescription Drug Take Back Day:
Each spring and fall the DEA hosts an event to encourage people to get rid of expired or unused medications. The next Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 28, 2023 from 10am-2 pm.
To find participating locations, visit: dea.gov/takebackday
Learn more about safe storage and disposal of prescriptions in Vermont at: healthvermont.gov/doyourpart
