Posted: 4/24/2018
Event provides opportunity for proper disposal of medications
Unwanted, unused and expired medications in our homes can cause poisonings, other health problems or end up in the wrong hands. In an effort to prevent accidents and improper disposal of these potentially dangerous substances, Parkland Health & Hospital System and the Dallas County Hospital District Police Department are participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Parkland’s drop-off sites will be open Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Medications can be dropped off at the following Parkland locations:
• Simmons Ambulatory Surgery Center , 4900 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas 75235
• Hatcher Station Health Center, 4600 Scyene Road, Dallas 75210
• Bluitt-Flowers Health Center, 303 E. Overton Road, Dallas 75216
• Garland Health Center, 802 Hopkins St., Garland 75040
• Southeast Dallas Health Center, 9202 Elam Road, Dallas 75217
• deHaro-Saldivar Health Center, 1400 N. Westmoreland Road, Dallas 75211
“Organizations from across the country are coming together to help keep leftover prescription drugs from being misused,” said Miranda Skaaning, Parkland Sustainability Manager. “It’s important that we provide this opportunity for our community members so they can properly dispose of their unused and expired medication.”
During the two Prescription Drug Take-Back Days hosted in 2017, 103 pounds of medications were collected at Parkland drop-off sites and 30,338 pounds of medications were collected statewide.
Skaaning said there are numerous reasons to drop off medications at this event, including:
• Unwanted medications may result in unintentional poisonings to children and pets
• Unused medications can make your home a target for theft by drug abusers
• Improper use of medications, such as antibiotics, can contribute to drug-resistant bacteria
“During the event individuals can drive into the parking lot and hand the medications to a law enforcement officer, no questions asked,” Skaaning emphasized. No intravenous materials, such as solutions, tubing or syringes, will be accepted at the event.
For more information about the proper way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medication, contact the poison experts at the North Texas Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222 or visit www.poisoncontrol.org.
For more information about Parkland services, please visit www.parklandhospital.com