University Hospitals is participating in this year’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 27, according to a news release.
Select UH locations will host booths where patients can dispose of expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications, the release said.
An ambulatory care pharmacist and a law enforcement officer will staff each booth.
Law enforcement will be responsible for taking and discarding collected medications.
The pharmacist will be present to discuss methods of drug disposal when take-back events are not available and to answer any general medication-related questions.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is a no-questions-asked biannual event where communities throughout the country set up collection sites for the safe disposal of expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications.
Proper disposal of unused drugs can prevent accidental poisoning, misuse and overdose.
Since the majority of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets, the Take-Back Day event provides Americans with an opportunity to prevent drug addiction and deaths due to overdose while also helping to protect the environment. In addition, the event serves to educate the general public about medication abuse. Collection sites are held at hospital, retail and clinic pharmacies, as well as law enforcement facilities.
Results from the October 2023, 24th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day: there were 4,675 total collection sites; 599,897 pounds of total weight collected (300 tons); and 4,383 total law enforcement participation, according to the release.
Over 17.9 million pounds (8,950 tons) of prescription drugs collected by the DEA since the first Take-Back Day back in the fall of 2010.
UH Ahuja, Geauga, Lake West, Portage, TriPoint Medical Centers and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office will provide no-cost glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure screenings during this event, the release said.
Acceptable items include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and liquid medication in bottles — less than four ounces — package bottles in a Ziploc bag
Items not accepted include: illegal or “street” drugs; needles, syringes or sharps containers; medical devices and batteries; aerosol cans and inhalers; Mercury-containing devices; adiopharmaceuticals; and liquid antineoplastic (chemo) agents.
All locations will offer free Narcan kits, free fentanyl test strips and education to the public to help reduce opioid overdoses through Project DAWN, according to the release.
The locations are:
• UH Ahuja Medical Center outside the Risman Pavilion under the overhang, 3999 Richmond Road in Beachwood — 216-593-5500
• Ashland County Sheriff’s Office main lobby, 1205 E. Main St. in Ashland — 419-289-6552
• Conneaut Police Department in the lobby in front of City Hall entrance, 294 Main St. in Conneaut — 440-593-7440
• Elyria Police Department main lobby, 18 West Ave. — 440-323-3302
• UH Geauga Medical Center main lobby, 13207 Ravenna Road in Chardon — 440-285-6000
• UH Geneva Medical Center Pharmacy driveway turnaround by the main entrance, 870 W. Main St. in Geneva — 440-466-1141
• UH Lake West Medical Center outside main entrance, 36000 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby — 440-553-8443
• Lyndhurst Municipal Court outside main entrance of City Hall, 5301 Mayfield Road — 440-461-6500
• UH Portage Medical Center main entrance, 6847 N. Chestnut St. in Ravenna — 330-297-0811
• UH TriPoint Medical Center outside main entrance, 7590 Auburn Road in Concord Township — 440-375-8100
• Westlake Police Department main lobby, 27300 Hilliard Blvd. — 440-871-3311
UH permanent prescription drug collection sites available year-round.
• Bolwell Pharmacy at UH Cleveland Medical Center Pharmacy first floor, 11100 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland — 440-870-8456
• Gates Medical Building Pharmacy, Suite 109, 125 E. Broad St. in Elyria — 440-329-7622
• UH Geauga Medical Center Pharmacy – ground floor, 13207 Ravenna Road in Chardon — 440-285-6000
• Mentor Hopkins Health Center Pharmacy, Suite 114, 9000 Mentor Ave. — 440-255-0800
• Minoff Health Center at Chagrin Highlands Pharmacy, Suite 2250, 3909 Orange Place in Orange — 216-285-0831
• UH Portage Medical Center Pharmacy, first floor, 6847 N. Chestnut St. in Ravenna — 330-297-0811
• Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital main lobby, 2101 Adelbert Road in Cleveland — 216-844-3911
• UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Ahuja Center for Women & Children main lobby, 5805 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland — 216-716-1259
• Westlake Health Center Pharmacy, Suite 1100, 960 Clague Road in Westlake — 440-827-2730
