Mercy Health participating in national drug take back

LIMA -- Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center wants to raise awareness for the annual Drug Take Back Initiative on Saturday, Oct. 23, which

offers the community an opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired medication.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also

educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. While it is a nationwide initiative, the

day is made possible locally through the partnership of area police, municipal and health care organizations.

St. Rita’s offers access to a medication drop box 24-hours-a-day, sevendays-a-week in the medical center’s Emergency Department waiting room.

“As a health care organization, Mercy Health understands the importance

of the safe use and disposal of medications,” said Lisa Brady, Director of Pharmacy at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s

Medical Center. “We are proud to provide a place to properly and lawfully discard medication in a safe way.”

Items left in the receptacles are kept secure and confidential. Note that while some prefer to remove the label,

it is not required. Additionally, experts caution that unwanted or expired medications should never be flushed as it is

harmful to the environment. Medication take-back programs provide a disposal option that is safe and environmentally friendly.

Additional tips on what to consider when dropping off medications include:

Accepted medications include vitamins, pills and pet medications. We cannot accept needles, inhalers, liquids, lotions, aerosols, ointments and creams.

While many use this service for their own medications, it’s also helpful for families and caregivers who need a

safe place to dispose of medications for loved ones.