Drug Take Back Program Nets 1,560 Pounds

In November 2017, a new county wide program was underway to take action to reduce prescription drug abuse by making it easier to properly dispose of unused medications. The La Grange Bluebonnet Lions Club, La Grange Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, City of La Grange, St. Mark’s Medical Center, and Second Chance Emporium partnered to take action to reduce prescription drug abuse by making it easier to properly dispose of unused medication.

Fayette County residents were asked to clean out their medicine cabinets, night stands, kitchen cabinets, hall closets, and drawers for unwanted, expired, or unused prescriptions and/or over the counter medications. Almost four years later, 1,560 pounds have been collected from the Med Return Boxes in the lobby areas of the following locations where citizens discarded their unwanted medications:

• La Grange Police Department (CVS Drug Collection Unit), 243 South College Street

• La Grange City Hall (Med Return Box), 155 East Colorado

• Fayette County Sheriff’s Office (Med Return Box), 1646 North Jefferson (Highway 77 North) “This Drug-Take-Back Program is an important initiative from a public safety and health standpoint because citizens will not have an accumulation of medications in their homes. These medications often includes prescription drugs that are abused by teens and adults,” said La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath.

“Expired medicines whether prescribed or purchased over the counter -- can be less effective or risky to take due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength,” said Lauren Higley, Pharm. D., St. Mark’s Medical Center’s pharmacy director. “Specifically, some are at risk of bacterial growth, and those that lose their potency over time can lead to more serious illnesses and future antibiotic resistance. Once the expiration date has passed, there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe or effective,” she added.

Dale Throckmorton, La Grange Bluebonnet Lions Club, says “properly disposing of excess drugs is everyone’s responsibility. Safely disposing of medications also reduces environmental risks, because disposing of drugs in landfills or drains create environmental hazards impacting the groundwater, rivers, and harming wildlife.”

“The collection of these unwanted drugs has been an important project for Fayette County. Without the partnership of La Grange Bluebonnet Lions Club, La Grange Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, City of La Grange, St. Mark’s Medical Center, and Second Chance Emporium, 1,560 pounds would continue to pose a threat to our communities. I ask you to continue to clean out your medicine cabinets, night stands, kitchen cabinets, hall closets, and drawers for unwanted, expired or unused prescription and/or over the counter medications,” says Fayette County Judge, Joe Weber.

FRIENDLY REMINDER WHEN DISPOSING OF UNUSED MEDICATION Prescriptions, prescription medications, over-the-counter medication, samples, vitamins, herbal supplements, prescription patches and pet medication are accepted in our Drug-Take Back Program. Preparing for the items for disposal is easy – empty these types of medications in zip-lock bags to prevent spilling. Do not place pill bottles/ medication containers in the CVS/Med Return Boxes. The items that are NOT to be deposited in the CVS/Med Return Boxes include: injectables, syringes, needles, i.e., EpiPens sharp objects, sharps containers, prescription ointments, lotions or liquids, compressed cylinders or aerosol cans, i.e., asthma inhalers), inhalers, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, medication from businesses or clinics, batteries, mercury/glass thermometers, and illicit drugs.