Prescription Drug Take-Back Event to Take Place at Hospital Thursday, April 26
Carthage Area Hospital, State Sen. Patty Ritchie, the Alliance for better Communities and local law enforcement are urging people who have unused, expired, or unwanted prescription medications to “Shed the Meds” on Thursday, April 26.
In an effort to eliminate the potential abuse of unwanted prescription medications and to protect the environment, the free drug take-back event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Carthage Area Hospital main entrance, 1001 West St., Carthage. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Carthage Police Department are also event partners.
The event seeks to provide people with a safe, legal way to dispose of medications. Carthage Area Hospital, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Carthage Police Department join Sen. Ritchie for at least the fourth time since 2014 to help North Country residents “shed the meds.”
“Through this effort, we can offer individuals a safe and responsible way to dispose of those medications,” Sen. Ritchie said. “Most people have prescriptions that are expired or no longer used sitting in their medicine cabinets. Carthage Area Hospital, the Alliance for Better Communities, and our local law enforcement agencies are great partners with me on this important effort.”
Carthage Area Hospital Clinical Pharmacist Christopher Bradley, PharmD, MBA, RPh, said he is pleased to partner with Sen. Ritchie’s office and law enforcement to offer a much-needed service. Because of strict collection and disposal requirements, many pharmacies no longer accept unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications.
“Our hospital strives to promote the health and well-being of our local residents and communities,” Bradley said. “This is another way we collaboratively work toward that goal.”
The last “Shed the Meds” event Carthage Area Hospital hosted in May 2017 collected roughly 65 pounds of unwanted prescription medications, Bradley said. Sen. Ritchie’s office also facilitated that event with local law agencies participating.
“We hope many people will take advantage of this opportunity on April 26 to drop off unwanted and expired medications at the hospital,” Bradley said.
Any unused or expired medications will be accepted, with the exception of needles, syringes, liquids, creams and ointments.
The April 26 event precedes National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which is Saturday, April 28. The hospital event continues Sen. Ritchie’s efforts to protect water sources and prevent prescription medications from ending up in the wrong hands. Those who are unable to attend the event can dispose of unwanted or expired medications during regular business hours at the Jefferson County Public Safety Building, 753 Waterman Drive, Watertown.
About Carthage Area Hospital
Carthage Area Hospital was established as a not-for-profit rural community hospital in 1965. It operates today as a fully accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serving approximately 83,000 residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis and southern St. Lawrence counties. The hospital formed a clinical affiliation with Crouse Health, Syracuse, in 2017.
The hospital also operates a network of community-based clinics, including its Family Health Center, Pediatric Clinic and Women’s Way to Wellness and provides a range of specialty care, including general surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgical care, physical therapy and behavioral health.