Thousands of Pounds of Unwanted Medication Removed from Homes

Contact: Brad Brown
Director, Public Relations
(314) 691-3130 – Cell
e-mail: brad.brown@stlcop.edu

April 26, 2012

Update: Record Breaking Year
Thousands of Pounds of Unwanted Medication Removed from Homes

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis College of Pharmacy teamed with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the city of St. Louis to remove expired and unwanted medication from homes. During the week of April 23, students and faculty members of St. Louis College of Pharmacy gave presentations at senior centers around the city, talking about the potential dangers of expired medication. On April 28, free drop off locations were set up at four Walgreens locations in the city.

That effort along with drop off sites around the region resulted in more than 12,000 pounds of unwanted medication collected, which is nearly double the amount collected from the first Medication Disposal Initiative in April, 2011. This year’s collection from the metro area also represents more than a quarter of the total amount collected by the DEA in a six-state region.

Here’s how the numbers break down:

• 89 lbs. removed from St. Louis city senior housing
• 220 lbs. dropped off at four Walgreens locations in the city
• 12,458 lbs. total amount of medication taken by the DEA in the metro area
• 45,703 lbs. in our region (Mo.; Southern Ill.; Iowa; Kan.; Neb.; S.D.)

Every day, nearly 3,000 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time. More than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. Unused medication should never be thrown straight into the trash where it’s accessible to small children and pets. Pills left in the medicine cabinet pose a danger as well since many abused prescription drugs are passed between friends and family. Throwing the pills away or flushing them down the toilet can also create environmental concerns.

Another medication disposal event will be held in the fall.

About St. Louis College of Pharmacy: Founded in 1864, St. Louis College of Pharmacy is one of the oldest and largest colleges of pharmacy in America. The College admits students directly from high school and integrates the liberal arts and sciences with a six-year professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Approximately 1,250 students attend, and more than 72 percent of practicing pharmacists in the St. Louis metropolitan area are alumni.

###