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Prescription Medication Drop-Off Campaign to Educate on Drug Abuse

May 18, 2016 | 12:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Police are reminding residents to clean out their medicine cabinets.

Constable Steve Baker says properly disposing of expired, unwanted and unused prescription drugs is not only important for the environment, but overall health and safety as well.

Keeping drugs in your home could result in accidental poisoning for not only yourself, but children and animals, or having them end up in the wrong hands for re-sale or improper use.

In environmental terms, responsible disposal keeps drugs from entering the clean water stream or soil.

This coming Saturday, May 21 you can drop off medications at pharmacies across the city, as part of National Prescription Drug Drop-off Day.

However, Constable Baker says this is something people should stay on top of all the time, since medications can be taken back to a pharmacy year round.

“Beside marijuana use, it is the biggest concern that our School Resource Officers have for the kids that are going to their schools and their safety. So, we want to avoid all accidental or opportunity to purposefully do anything wrong with prescription medication.”

Within the adult population, he noted that prescription drug abuse is certainly showing an upward trend lately, but nothing that is particularly alarming to police. Constable Baker explained that it’s part of the drug abuse cycle that moves in waves in Lethbridge.

It’s recommended that you check for expired medications, remove any not in their original container and put unwanted drugs in a clear bag for easier disposal at the pharmacy.