b'Content supplied by the Health Products Stewardship AssociationOld meds be gonesafelyProtect your family and the environment with these simple steps to dispose of medicationsW hen pharmacist Rachelle Rocha saw Lillian*, one ofCourtesy of Seasons Pharmacy and Culinaria, Sudbury, Ontarioher regular customers, approach with a sad smile and a plastic bag full of medications, she knew what had happened. Lillians father, who had been receiving end-of-life care at home, had passed away.They spent a few minutes in quiet conversation, then walked to the end of the pharmacy counter where Lillian dumped the contents of the plastic bag into a specially designated bin. The bag contained her fathers unused medications, including pain medications, and a few other expired medications, vitamins and creams found in his home.As pharmacists we are privileged to be with so many of our patients and their loved ones throughout their life journey. Were also equipped to take in unused and expired medications for safe disposal. Its one less thing you have to worry about,What you can dosays Rocha, co-owner of Seasons Pharmacy and Culinaria inMany pharmacies in Canada take back unused and expired Sudbury, Ontario. medications, including nonprescription drugs and vitamins. The safe disposal of medications protects your family andSome also accept used medical sharps (needles and other med-is essential to help protect the environment. Medications,ical devices designed to puncture the skin, such as for diabetes even vitamins, should never beushed down the toilet.testing). Once you con rm a pharmacy, here are some tips:Canadian studies have found evidence of pharmaceuticalEmpty all pills and tablets (including pain medications and medi-waste throughout the Great Lakes and trace amounts incations for pets) into a plastic or paper bag, or a cardboard box.drinking water. Regular garbage disposal is also not an optionPlace the empty containers for the pills and tablets (such as for medications, no matter how old. They can be found andplastic prescription vials) in your recycling bin at home.consumed by children or pets, who can become ill. TheyKeep all liquids and creams in their original containers (such as eventually contaminate the soil of land ll sites. tubes, bottles or jars) and place them in the bag or box with the The safe disposal of medications is also an importantpills and tablets; remove or black out all personal information.contribution to societys e orts to prevent hospitalizationsFor medical sharps, most pharmacies in Ontario, Manitoba and deaths due to accidental overdoses of opioid drugs.and P.E.I. participate in a government-approved program and Originally used as pain medication (for example for an injury,can provide you with a sharps container at no cost. In other after surgery or as part of cancer treatment), leftover opioidsprovinces, keep the sharps separate from medications and can be misused or stolen. Their misuse has been a public healthcontact your municipality to get details on their disposal.crisis in Canada for several years, which has worsened since T ake your medications and/or sharps to the pharmacy right the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. away or store them in a secure (ideally locked) location until you go to the pharmacy.Weighty matters More information about the safe disposal of consumer health products can be found on the website of Canadas Health Products Stewardship Association (www.healthsteward.ca).3.5 million Collected and*Name changedsafely disposed kilograms of medications of by the Health Products Stewardship 2 million Association since kilograms of sharps it was established in 1999HPSA-Consumer-OldMeds-8.5x11.indd 1 2021-03-15 8:25 AM'