City Of Brookhaven, CVS Work To Get Rid Of Leftover Meds

BROOKHAVEN, GA - The City of Brookhaven Police Department’s partnership with the CVS Health’s Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program has been a huge success, safely disposing of more than 23 pounds of unused or expired medication – including controlled substances – in its first month.

The new drug disposal unit, which is located in the lobby of the Brookhaven Police Department at 2665 Buford Highway in Brookhaven, reduces the amount of unneeded medicine in residents’ homes and decreases the potential for prescription drug abuse, which has soared in recent years, especially among teenagers, according to a release by the City of Brookhaven.

Proper drug disposal also helps to prevent the contamination of local landfills and water supplies from unused medication.

“The Drug Collection Unit site can take almost everything except liquids and aerosols,” Brookhaven Police Chief Gary Yandura said in a statement. “It’s safe, open to the public 24 hours a day seven days a week, and drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.”

The alternatives can be disastrous as three out of four prescription drug overdoses that involve opioid painkillers such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin and generics), and oxycodone (Percocet and generics) are leftover drugs that people have lying in their medicine cabinets, according to a report in Consumer Reports.

Tom Davis, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS Health, lauded the initial results of the collaborative effort.

“The first month total in Brookhaven illustrates just how important this program is,” he said in a statement. “CVS Health remains dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and preventing prescription drug abuse.”

Brookhaven residents and CVS Pharmacy customers can also inquire about the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program at the toll free phone number 1-866-559-8830 or visit http://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse.

CVS Pharmacy’s website also provides patients with resources to prevent prescription drug abuse and ensure safe use of medication.

Photo courtesy of the City of Brookhaven