Parkland to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 22
Event provides opportunity for proper disposal of medications
Expired, unused and unwanted medications in our homes can possibly end up in the wrong hands and lead to something tragic. To prevent accidents and improper disposal of potentially harmful substances, Parkland Health and the Dallas County Hospital District (DCHD) Police Department are participating in the 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The event, which happens twice a year, is a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs, according to Captain Willie Jenkins with the DCHD Police Department.
Parkland will host the take-back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at its Simmons Ambulatory Surgery Center located at 4900 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235. The event is free and open to the public. Community members can hand the medications to a law enforcement officer with no questions asked.
The October 2022 Take Back Day brought in 647,163 pounds (324 tons) nationwide. Texas had 427 collection sites including Parkland, bringing in 46,668 pounds of unwanted medications.
Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisonings in the U.S., according to staff with the North Texas Poison Center located at Parkland. While prescription medications aid in the treatment of many diseases and health problems, it is important to dispose expired or are unused medicine properly to avoid these accidents. While there are several ways to dispose of unwanted or expired medicine, Drug Take Back Day is the safest option for your family and the environment.
“Drug Take Back Day is a great opportunity to discuss medication safety with your family. Teach your child that medicine should always be given by an adult and teach older children how to take medicine responsibly and only when necessary,” said Lizbeth Petty, MPH, Public Health Education Manager with the North Texas Poison Center. “Parents and caregivers can also utilize this as a reminder to make sure they are taking medication correctly and to get rid of expired medications.”
For more information about the proper way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications, contact the poison experts at the North Texas Poison Center at Parkland, 1-800-222-1222, or visit www.poisoncontrol.org. For more information about Parkland, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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