TTUHSC School of Pharmacy to Host Medication Cleanout™
Is your medicine cabinet filled with prescriptions or medications you no longer use? With the fall weather upon us, medical experts say it is a perfect time to clean out your medicine cabinet.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy’s Texas Panhandle Poison Center along with the Texas Tech University Police Department will host a Medication Cleanout™ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Texas Tech Physicians Medical Pavilion, 3601 Fourth St.
Jeanie Jaramillo-Stametz, Pharm.D., director of the Texas Panhandle Poison Center, encourages Lubbock and surrounding area residents to bring any unused, expired or unnecessary medications for proper disposal. The program also provides disposal services for those who use syringes or sharps.
Old medications become potential sources of poisoning to young children or may be accessed by teens experimenting with drugs. They also are a hazard to adults and elderly as they increase the risk of choosing the wrong bottle or taking medications that are no longer required.
“The abuse of prescription medications continues to be an epidemic in the U.S.,” Jaramillo-Stametz said. “Medication Cleanout™ is a proactive approach to safeguard our communities by providing a free and convenient way for people to dispose of these medications in a legal, environmentally sound and convenient manner.”
A drive-thru, drop-off format will allow residents to dispose of their medications with the added convenience of not leaving their cars. Yard signs will be posted along Fourth Street to help drivers locate the drive-thru path. Medications should be in their original containers. Because of environmental restrictions, only medications from households can be accepted. Loads of medications from clinics, pharmacies and other businesses are not allowed. To date, more than 50,000 pounds of unneeded medicine and sharps have been disposed of properly through the TTUHSC Medication Cleanout™ program.
For more information about the Medication Cleanout™, call (806) 414-9495 or visit www.MedicationCleanout.com.
Related Stories
How Does Your Garden Grow?
As spring approaches, some people’s thoughts turn to gardening. Whether it’s a flower garden they desire or a vegetable garden want to have, they begin planning what they’ll plant and what they need to do to ensure a successful garden.
Adopt a Growth Mindset for a Better Life
A “growth mindset” accepts that our intelligence and talents can develop over time, and a person with that mindset understands that intelligence and talents can improve through effort and learning.
Drug Use, Family History Can Lead to Heart Disease in Younger Adults
Abstaining from drug abuse and an early diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) can help prevent heart disease.
Recent Stories
The TTUHSC Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health Welcomes Ben Carson as Power of the Purse Keynote Speaker
Retired neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, M.D., delivered a keynote address at the Power of the Purse luncheon and fundraiser today (April 18).
Filling the Gap: PA Impact on Rural Health Care
Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Elesea Villegas, MPAS, PA-C, spoke about the challenges rural health care currently faces and how PAs are stepping up to better serve the rural patient population.
School of Pharmacy Remembers Contributions of Key Collaborator
Cynthia Nash, Pharm.D., served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice for the School, and was an instrumental collaborator and key ally in our partnership with the Dallas VA North Texas Health Care System.