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CHPA issues statement on National Drug Take-Back Day and medication disposal

Consumer Healthcare Product Association president and chief executive officer Scott Melville released the following statement in advance of National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, reminding consumers that proper disposal is important all year long: “Every day, millions of Americans rely o

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WASHINGTON — Consumer Healthcare Product Association president and chief executive officer Scott Melville released the following statement in advance of National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, reminding consumers that proper disposal is important all year long:

Scott Melville

“Every day, millions of Americans rely on over-the-counter (O-T-C) medicines to help prevent, treat, or control the symptoms of many health conditions and diseases. When those medicines expire or are no longer needed or wanted, consumers should dispose of them to reduce the risk of them falling into the wrong hands, including young children or even criminals who could misuse or abuse them.

“On Saturday, April 27th, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting another National Drug Take-Back Day, encouraging people all across the nation to take part in efforts to properly dispose of their prescription and O-T-C medicines at one of many DEA-affiliated locations or special events. But the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) wants to remind Americans that proper drug disposal is a year-round effort, with thousands of communities across the U.S. providing easy and convenient access to community and in-home medication disposal options every day.“A diverse network of community-based waste management facilities, police and fire stations, sheriffs’ offices, chain and independent pharmacies, hospitals and clinics provide a wide array of year-round disposal options for consumers. And the number of retail-based disposal options is growing with major pharmacies including CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens and Walmart offering an increasing array of take back options through their stores.“For those who prefer to responsibly dispose of non-controlled medicines in their household trash, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer this advice:

  1. Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds.
  2.  Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
  3. Throw the container in your household trash.

“Other in-home disposal options include special deactivation pouches or packets of chemical solutions provided by pharmacies, such as Walmart and Sam’s Club. These can be mixed with medications to render the active ingredients safe for household trash disposal.

“Altogether, America now has a vast network of options for proper medicine disposal with each city, county, and state offering their own unique programs and options. Here are some resources to help find local options and to learn more about proper medicine disposal:

“CHPA applauds the DEA, manufacturers, retails, and communities across the U.S. for their ongoing efforts to encourage and enable safe and proper disposal of unwanted and expired medicines.”

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