Prescription Drugs.
Responsible use, storage and disposal.

Many people struggle with prescription drug addiction. We can all help keep homes, workplaces and communities safer by handling commonly abused drugs responsibly. If you have questions about prescription use or abuse, start by asking your prescribing physician or pharmacist.

RESPONSIBLE USE

  • Only use prescription medications as directed by a healthcare professional.

  • Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone else’s prescription medications.

  • Always store your medications securely to prevent others from taking them, and properly dispose of medications that you no longer need.

  • Check the expiration dates of your medications.

  • Be a good example to those around you by modeling these safe medication-taking practices and discussing the dangers of misusing prescription drugs with your family, friends, colleagues, students, or patients.

  • If you have any questions regarding your prescription, you should consult the prescribing physician and your pharmacist.

RESPONSIBLE STORAGE

Store your prescription medications in secure locations such as:

  • Lock-boxes

  • Medication safes

  • Or other lockable spaces

Avoid storage places where children and others can easily access, such as:

  • Drawers

  • Nightstands

  • Or kitchen cabinets

RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL - DROPBOX

Thanks to a grant from the CVS/pharmacy Medical Disposal for Safer Communities Program received in 2015, the City of Upper Arlington hosts a permanent Drug Collection Unit in the Concourse Gallery of the Municipal Services Center (MSC). Applying for the grant and pursuing safe modes of disposing of unwanted medication was a joint effort of the Leadership UA Class of 2015, the Police Division and The Stand Project. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.

Accepted items: 
Any pills, liquids, inhalers, or ointments that are prescribed

Items that cannot be accepted:
Thermometers, Needles (sharps), Medication/medical waste from businesses or clinics, any over-the-counter medication

The Upper Arlington Municipal Building
3600 Tremont Road. 
Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday

To drop off prescription drugs after normal business hours or if no one is in the City Manager's office, you can contact the Upper Arlington Police Department (down the hall in the Municipal Building) (614) 583-5150.

Visit http://rxdrugdropbox.org/ to find other locations in the Central Ohio area.

For more information regarding safe and proper disposal of prescription medications, please visit http://www.uaoh.net/department/division.php?structureid=570

RESPONSIBLE DISPOSAL - HOME

If you can't get to the community dropbox or scheduled take back near you, you can dispose of your prescription medications safely at home by using a Deterra Bag (get one for free by mail here) or by following these steps:

STEP 1:
Remove pills from bottle and mix them with undesirable substances such as kitty litter or coffee grounds. You can mix them in a plastic ziploc or sealable freezer bag.

STEP 2:
Throw away the sealed mixture into the trash.

STEP 3:
Remove the prescription label along with any personal information from your prescription packaging and dispose of the empty bottle in your recycling bin.

There is a small number of medicines that may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal with just one dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed. To prevent accidental ingestion of these potentially dangerous medicines by children, or pets, it is recommended that these medicines be disposed of quickly through a medicine take-back program or by transferring them to a DEA-authorized collector. If these disposal options are not readily available, it is recommended that these medicines be flushed down the sink or toilet as soon as they are no longer needed. 

Click here for a list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing.

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Information and statistics courtesy of the Cardinal Health Foundation, the OSU College of Pharmacy, the U.S. FDA and Generation RX. If you have any additional specific questions regarding your prescription medications, you should consult your physician or pharmacist or you can contact Generation RX at 614.292.2266 • info@generationrx.org

IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU NEED, PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE WILL CONFIDENTIALLY TRY TO HELP.