Help Prevent Medication Misuse and Dispose of Unused Medications
TTUHSC to Host Fall Medication Cleanout
The drive-thru event provides residents with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of their unwanted medications and sharps.
Organized by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, the Texas Panhandle Poison Center (TPPC) is hosting this year’s Fall Medication Cleanout in Lubbock from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 (Saturday) outside the Texas Tech Physicians Medical Pavilion, 3601 Fourth St.
Aiming to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription medication, the drive-thru event provides residents with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of their unwanted medications and sharps. With yard signs directing drivers, the added convenience of staying in their cars allows for an easy drop-off experience.
Volunteers providing support for the event include staff from the TPPC, TTU Police Department, TTU Department of Community, Family and Addiction Services and TTUHSC pharmacy and nursing students.
“It’s time to go through your home to collect any medications that are no longer being used,” TTPC Managing Director Jeanie Shawhart, Pharm.D., said. “Even if they aren’t expired, it’s a good idea to clean them out. Otherwise, they are a risk for poisoning and drug overdose.”
Shawhart said it is eye-opening to see how much unused medication is out there. Unused medications around young children or teens pose a deadly risk and can be extremely harmful to the community. Only household medications can be accepted and it’s recommended to leave them in the original containers. Medications from clinics, pharmacies and other businesses are not allowed.
“By bringing these items to Medication Cleanout you can rest easier,” Shawhart said. “Know that you’ve reduced risk in your home and that your items will not end up in the sewer system or landfill where they could eventually make their way into our drinking water.”
Volunteers providing support for the event include staff from the TPPC, Texas Tech University (TTU) Police Department and the Department of Community, Family and Addiction Services at the TTU College of Human Sciences. Student volunteers from the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing will be there as well. For more information or to volunteer, call (806) 414-9495 or visit the Medication Cleanout website.
Related Stories
Your Office Squad: A How to Guide
Lynn Jennings, PhD, LPC-S, LSOTP-S, and Nicole Noble, PhD, LPC-S, joined the TTU Health Check podcast to share their expertise and advice on fostering connections in the workplace.
New Year, New You
Patti May, M.D., family medicine, Texas Tech Physicians Multispecialty Clinic, explains the different procedures available to help older and younger people look refreshed.
New Procedure Offers Hope for COPD Sufferers in the Panhandle
For those who have successfully quit smoking but may have significant limitations from the residual lung damage associated with emphysema, a new medical procedure called Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) is now available in Amarillo.
Recent Stories
Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.
Moseley Named Permian Basin Regional Dean of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing
Kelly Moseley, DHSc, R.N., has been named the TTUHSC School of Nursing regional dean in the Permian Basin.
German Joins TTUHSC’s Growing List of Senior Members for National Academy of Inventors
Nadia German, Ph.D., director of the Medicinal Chemistry program at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, has been named to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2025 class of Senior Members.