"Drugs placed in the secure bin are non-retrievable except by authorized personnel and are disposed of by experts in accordance with federal and environmental regulations," said Ron Villamaria, PharmD, West Shore Medical Center's pharmacy manager.
The bright blue MedSafe box is located in the lobby waiting area near the gift shop. Prescriptions, in their original container or a sealed plastic bag, can be placed in the box via the collection slot.
"Providing a safe means of disposing of unused medications is one way West Shore Medical Center is working to combat prescription drug misuse in our community," said Villamaria. "Narcotic medications are often sought out for recreational use or resale on the street, contributing to the opioid crisis we are currently seeing in our region."
It's important to dispose of all unused medications safely, even those that are not desired for recreational use. "Drugs that are beneficial to the person for whom they were prescribed can be deadly to others, so medications should never be shared or left where others can get hold of them," warned Villamaria. "Taking unused medications out of the home eliminates the possibility that they will get into the wrong hands."