Pictured above are members of the MedStar Health pharmacy team with one of the prescription drug disposal bins.
Often prescribed for surgery, pain management or a lost loved one, unused prescription medications can be found in household medicine cabinets throughout our communities—putting them in danger of falling into the wrong hands.
A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that as many as 92% of patients who are prescribed opioids after surgery do not use all of their pills. And 77% of patients do not store their prescription opioids in locked containers.*
In an effort to help community members rid of unwanted prescription drugs safely and anonymously, MedStar Health has joined National Drug Take Back Day, an annual effort held every fall by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“People generally don’t want to keep old, expired, dangerous medications laying around in their home. However, from what we have seen, many people just don’t know what to do with them,” says Michael Glaser, outpatient pharmacy manager of Operations at MedStar Health. “Programs like this help us provide information and guidance to the community on how to dispose of these unwanted medications safely.”
As a five-year sponsor of National Drug Take Back Day, MedStar Health hosts drop-off locations at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. Outside of this annual event, prescription drug disposal is available at all MedStar Health pharmacies year-round.
Find care now
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or seek care at an emergency room.
“Our patients see the green box in the lobby and don’t know what it’s for,” Glaser says, referencing the brightly colored drug collection receptacles located in MedStar Health pharmacies. “This event helps us spread the word about this resource available to them.”
Glaser says National Drug Take Back Day is also an opportunity to help dispel some common misconceptions about drug collection and disposal.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that drugs are collected and redispensed,” he says. “We assure them that we follow all state and federal guidelines to ensure these medications never make it in the hands of another patient.”
Glaser adds that the organization’s participation in this program makes crimes of convenience less likely to occur, and stops inexperienced users from trying prescription drugs due to easy access.
“While this program is unlikely to end the opioid crisis on its own, it is a significant step toward limiting availability.”
*Source: JAMA Surg; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2644905