BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day occurs annually on the third Friday in April.
The goal is to raise awareness and rid homes of unused or expired medications sitting in your medicine cabinet, night stand or kitchen. These drugs have potential for abuse by family, friends, or visitors to your home.
How do you participate?
Dispose of leftover and unused medications that can lead to misuse, addiction, poisoning or death. 70% of opioid dependence, overdoses and deaths begin with leftover drugs in the medicine cabinet. Additionally, some expired medications may become toxic.
During National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, do your part keep your home safe and fight drug addiction. Review medications wherever you keep them. Safely dispose of leftovers from any surgery or illness or those that have expired.
How do you dispose of the medications?
Environmental studies have shown that flushing your medications will flow into our water supply, negatively impacting the fish we eat and the water we drink. When discarded in the trash, medications contaminate the soil.
Site-of-use or at-home drug disposal solutions offer a safe and eco-friendly way of ridding your home of medications. You can find a site-of-use or in-home disposal solution online. Options could be DisposeRx, that provides a safe and eco-friendly way to dispose of medications. Also, the DEA has a collection site locator where you can find a safe collection site near you. It's part of the DEA's Take Back Day initiative that takes place on April 27th.
Lastly, use #NatlCleanOutYourMedicineCabinetDay on social media to show others how easy it can be!
