The next time you shop at Meijer for groceries, electronics, home goods or beauty supplies, bring in your old, unused or expired prescriptions to get them out of your medicine cabinet. In February, Meijer announced a Consumer Drug Take-Back Program at all its supercenters across the Midwest. Secure in-store kiosks were installed in the pharmacy area at all stores to allow shoppers to safely and properly dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs at no cost. “Meijer is thrilled to be one of the first in our industry to provide a secure and convenient prescription drug take-back program at all stores in the communities we serve,” said Jason Beauch, vice president of Meijer Pharmacy. “The Meijer Drug Take-Back Program allows our customers to remove the risk of an unforeseen accident occurring with expired or unused medications, while enabling them to properly dispose prescription drugs and reducing the possibility of creating a public health hazard.” Why get rid of old meds? There are many reasons.
- Accidental exposure to medicine in the home is a major source of unintentional pediatric poisonings in the United States, according to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
- Access to prescription pain relievers kept in medicine cabinets can be a temptation for those with substance use disorder and pose a risk for teens who might find them alluring. In 2017, an estimated 18 million people misused prescription drugs at least once, according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- By turning in unused drugs to a secure location, you’ll reduce the amount that end up in the environment. Research has linked water contamination via prescription disposal with abnormalities in aquatic species and medications flushed or thrown in the garbage can also get into local waters.
At Meijer, you can simply dispose of your old prescriptions during pharmacy hours at secure kiosks. This includes opioids, controlled substances, and over-the-counter medications. Meijer pharmacists work in partnership with Inmar Rx Returns to properly document, transport and dispose of medications on a regular basis. The in-store take back program complies with the rules and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and HIPAA privacy laws. “We’ve made this incredibly easy,” Beauch said. “You do not have to talk to a pharmacist or any member of the pharmacy team.” Beauch said the reaction to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve had a lot of customers coming into our stores and thanking us for having this program in their community,” he said. “Ultimately, I think that this is just the right thing to do for our communities.”
If you enjoyed this post, read these:
- Dispose of Unused Medications on Drug Take Back Day
- Tips for Prescription Safety, Storage and Disposal
- Talk to Your Kids About the Dangers of Prescription Drugs
Photos courtesy of Meijer
