Get rid of expired pills, old sharps at TTUHSC's Medication Cleanout Saturday

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center and the Amarillo Police Department, will host a Spring Medication Cleanout on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy drive through, located across from Northwest Texas Hospital at 1400 S. Coulter St.

During the medication cleanout, TTUHSC health professionals will be accepting expired or unused prescription and over the counter medications through their drive through drop-off. They will also be accepting sharps, including needles that are stored in a thick, plastic container with a lid.

Jeanie Shawhart, PharmD, MS Director, Texas Panhandle Poison Center and Assistant Professor, TTUHSC-School of Pharmacy, said that although a sharps container is preferred, individuals can also dispose of their sharps in any thick plastic container such as an old detergent or bleach bottle. Shawhart said that so long as the plastic container is of proper thickness to prevent any unwanted needles poking through, they can be accepted.

Various groups will host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, at the event Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Amarillo.
Various groups will host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, at the event Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Amarillo.
Various groups will host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.
Various groups will host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy.

"One of the risks with having excess medications in the home is that someone that is suffering with mental health issues or depression may choose to take an overdose. When they do this, oftentimes they go to the medicine cabinet and take whatever is available. So, when you have excess medications in a home, it creates a higher risk of that abuse," Shawhart said.

Shawhart said that according to a new study, 42% of Americans know someone why has passed from an overdose. Shawhart said that although much of that percentile is related to elicit drug use, "a good portion" is related to medication overdoses.

"By getting these items out of the home, we are reducing the amount of medications in the home, reducing the risk for accidental poisonings, drug abuse, and medication overdoses," Shawhart said.

During the event, TTUHSC is also accepting and disposing of inhalers and the similar materials. However, they will not be accepting any oxygen tanks or mass amounts of IV fluids. Shawhart also said that no business or pharmacy medication loads will be accepted.

TTUHSC, TPPC and APD host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy drive through drop-off location.
TTUHSC, TPPC and APD host a spring Medication Cleanout, offering the opportunity to properly disposal of expired, unwanted or unnecessary medications, Saturday at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy drive through drop-off location.

Shawhart said that the Amarillo Police Department (APD) does partner with them for the event and will be on site, acting as security as the collections are made during the Medication Cleanout.

"We could not host this event without their participation ... because some people are disposing of some medications including narcotics. Their role in overseeing the event really helps us to ensure everything runs smoothly," Shawhart said.

In addition to participating in the Medication Cleanout, Texans age 45-75, or those younger with a family history of colorectal cancer, are encouraged to see the Get FIT to Stay Fit group at the Medication Cleanout. The group can be found on site near the walk-through inflatable colon model.

Get F.I.T. to Stay Fit provides free colorectal cancer screening kits for people to take home and collect a very small sample of their stool. Participants mail the sample back to the organization in a postage paid envelope for the lab to run the test. If a kit detects blood in the sample, the Get F.I.T. grant will pay 100% for a colonoscopy for the participant.  For more information, visit www.cancerscreening-tx.com or call 806-414-9175.

For more information about the Medication Cleanout, visit the website https://www.medicationcleanout.com/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: TTUHSC hosts spring Medication Cleanout for old prescriptions, more