PLYMOUTH, MA — Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (BID-Plymouth) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will participate in the National Prescription Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26. The day allows individuals to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
In 2016, BID-Plymouth was the first hospital South of Boston to place a MedSafe® kiosk, located in the Urann Lobby, for the public to anonymously rid themselves of prescription medications that are no longer wanted or needed.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. “Individuals suffering from substance abuse addiction may begin their addiction by helping themselves to opioids from old prescriptions left in their family’s medicine cabinet,” says BID-Plymouth Pharmacy Director Kristina L. McGill, MS, RPh. “It’s vital for individuals to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of old or unwanted prescriptions”. Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds—approximately 5,900 tons—of pills. BID-Plymouth takes in approximately 38 gallons of unwanted medications every four weeks.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, additional drop off locations or about the October 26 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (BID-Plymouth) is a not-for-profit healthcare and hospice provider, serving 250,000 residents of 13 towns in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. BID-Plymouth is a full-service, 170-bed acute care community hospital accredited by The Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. BID-Plymouth is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a new health care system that brings together 13 hospitals comprised of academic medical centers as well as community and specialty hospitals, with more than 4,300 physicians and 35,000 employees with a shared mission to expand access to exceptional care and advance the science and practice of medicine through ground-breaking research and education.
