Medications

Bring your unwanted medications to any participating police station in the Franklin County area during operating hours. (See list below.) Simply place the meds in the green MEDRETURN box. Prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and veterinary medications are accepted. Keep them in the original containers. You do not have to cross off personal information.

Do NOT bring: any liquids, chemotherapy drugs, syringes/needles, or I.V. equipment.

The old advice of flushing unwanted medications down the toilet is now known to be the least desirable of all alternatives. Although flushing appears to be the simplest way to prevent unintended use or other diversion, wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to treat pharmaceutical waste. Don't flush your unwanted medications!

Never burn unwanted medications or personal care products in a burn barrel. Uncontrolled burning can create dioxins and other air pollutants.

Reduce pharmaceutical waste whenever possible:

• Use all antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Not using all doses of an antibiotic could lead to development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
• Buy only as much as can reasonably be used before the expiration date. For example, don't buy 500 aspirin just because it's cheaper, unless you will use them all.
• When your doctor prescribes a new medication, ask the doctor to prescribe only enough to see if the medication will work for you and in the lowest dose advisable. That way, if the medication doesn't suit you, there is less to waste. Do the same for your pet's medications.