Medication flushed down the toilet ends up at wastewater treatment plants, which are not designed to remove dissolved medications. These pharmaceuticals can damage beneficial bacteria that helps to treat wastewater, and end up in our streams, rivers, and lakes. There, they can affect wildlife and end up in the downstream drinking water supplies. Thus proper disposal is of medication is important.
The Chapel Hill franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, in partnership with the Chapel Hill Police Department, will present “Mission Medicine,” a medication take-back program, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 18th, at University Mall on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill
The medication drop-off point will be on the Estes Drive side of University Mall in front of Dillard’s. The event will be free and open to everyone. Chapel Hill Police Officers will be on hand to oversee the drop-off of medications in a secure container.
“Mission Medicine is part of a nationwide effort by Home Instead Senior Care to protect seniors and the environment. We are providing a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs before they are introduced into landfills or the water supply, helping to prevent accidental use of expired medication, and reducing the potential for theft of medication from homes,” said Stephen Lair, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office.
Under the Federal Government Guidelines on Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs, medication should not be disposed of by flushing it down the toilet unless information with the medication specifically advises it is safe to do so.
Unused medication collected on May 18th will be incinerated at a private crematorium which has contracted with the Chapel Hill Police Department.
For more information:
Stephen Lair at 919-933-3300 or stephen.lair@homeinstead.com
Officer Mark Geercken, Chapel Hill Police Department, 919-932-2929
