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SALT LAKE CITY — We sometimes hear of prescription medicine getting into the wrong hands — children ingest it or teens steal it to abuse it. So how should we be storing and getting rid of our medications?
Kyle Nordfelt, a drug prevention coordinator with the Utah County Health Department, said 70 percent of people who abuse pain pills say they get them from friends or relatives for free. Free pills often come from leftover/unused pills from the medicine cabinet.
For safe disposal, use the acronym MED:
Mix medications with something gross. Place pills in a re-sealable bag, crush them and mix with kitty litter, dirt or coffee grounds and put in trash.
Extra pills need to be locked up to control access.
Drop meds off at a permanent disposal site: find on useonlyasdirected.org.
Drug Take Back EventThe National Prescription Drug Take Back event will be held Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public can dispose of expired, unused or unwanted medicines at locations throughout the state.
For a list of locations statewide, click here.
Utah County locations include:
- Saratoga Springs Smith's, 1320 Redwood Rd
- Lehi Macey's, 760 E. Main St.
- American Fork Fresh Market, 135 E. Main St.
- Pleasant Grove Macey's, 931 W. State St.
- Lindon Tri City Medical Clinic, 275 W. 200 N.
- Orem Macey's, 880 N. State St.
- Provo Macey's, 1400 N. State St.
- Provo Smith's, 350 North Freedom Blvd.
- Springville Public Library, 45 S. Main St.
- Spanish Fork Macey's, 187 E. 1000 N.
- Payson Market, 586 N. Main St.
Or call 1-800-456-7707.
