Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet This Spring
Warmer weather is here and with it comes spring cleaning. As you tackle your closets and home, medical experts say don’t forget your medicine cabinet. When old medications are left to collect dust, they become potential sources of poisoning to young children or may be accessed by teens experimenting with drugs.
The Texas Panhandle Poison Center of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy will host a Lubbock Medication Cleanout™ from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 at the Texas Tech Physicians Medical Pavilion, 3601 Fourth St.
Jeanie Jaramillo, Pharm.D., director of the Texas Panhandle Poison Center, encourages Lubbock area residents to clean out their medicine cabinets and bring in any unused, expired or unnecessary medications for proper disposal.
“Flushing or throwing old medications into the trash may contaminate the environment, pollute our drinking and ground water and harm aquatic creatures,” Jaramillo said. “Also, the abuse of prescription medications is now the fastest growing drug problem in the U.S. 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.”
The event will be conducted using a drive-thru drop off format and signs will be posted. Medications must be in their original containers. To date, 16 Medication Cleanouts™ have been conducted and 6,100 pounds of unneeded medicine have been collected. These medicines are no longer a threat for poisoning, abuse, misuse or environmental contamination. Because of environmental restrictions, only medications from households can be accepted; loads of medications from clinics, pharmacies and other businesses are not allowed.
The Medication Cleanout™ is a TTUHSC School of Pharmacy initiative and is sponsored by Voices and the Managed Care Center with support from the TTUHSC School of Medicine and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department. For more information about the Medication Cleanout™, call (806) 351-5626 or visit www.MedicationCleanout.com.
For more breaking news and experts, follow @ttuhscnews on Twitter.
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
Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated
On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.
Motivation From the Heart
While the TTU System aimed to cast a spotlight on these individuals and their work, the honorees chose to cast that light onto others, sharing their humble gratitude toward those who helped, guided and inspired them.
TTUHSC Honors Class of 2023 at Commencement Ceremonies
TTUHSC hosted commencement ceremonies for its 1,669-member Class of 2023.