By Braden Berg
Published: Dec. 12, 2018 at 5:34 PM CST
Walgreens is now providing a way for you to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medication.
Springfield has two locations offering the free service.
The big blue bins are near the pharmacy, and that is where you can drop off that unwanted medication. Better yet, the service is available everyday.
Walgreens began the drug disposal program in 2016... and starting this week Missouri is the 46th state to take advantage of the program.
"It expanded opportunities for people to have more chances to dispose of prescriptions in the proper way." said Katie Towns, the assistant director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
14 Walgreens across the show-me state now have the blue bins, including two Springfield locations.
You can go to the Walgreens on Campbell and Battlefield and the store on east Sunshine near Arcadia Avenue to dispose of your medication.
"We have been telling people what not to do with them, and I feel like this gives them an option of what they can do with them safely to dispose of prescriptions." said Towns.
The bins accept prescription or over-the-counter drugs and ointments, but do NOT accept needles or inhalers.
And although Springfield has drug take back days several times during the year... these disposal kiosks are open 24-7.
"Those are the opportunities that we have been driving our community towards but this is sort of that open access option and I think that will give people a much better chance to not hold on to prescriptions in their cabinet." said Towns.
Health officials hope these disposal bins will help in their fight against the opioid crisis.
"Just having an option of immediately going and disposing of those prescriptions in a safe way will give people a way to make their home safer, make their environment safer." added Towns.
The bins are secure and bolted to the floor and are also monitored all day.
Arkansas has already taken part in the program and the Walgreens in Mountain Home has a disposal bin.
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE FROM WALGREENS:
Governor Parson Joins Walgreens to Launch Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks in Missouri
Missouri becomes the 46th state where Walgreens offers its safe medication disposal program.
DEERFIELD, Ill., December, 11 2018 – Walgreens announced today it is expanding its first of a kind safe medication disposal program throughout Missouri to allow individuals to dispose of unwanted medication in a drugstore setting year-round at no cost. Governor Mike Parson will join Walgreens at one of its St. Louis locations to launch safe medication disposal kiosks now available at 14 select Walgreens pharmacies across Missouri.
“We are excited to bring a year-round opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted medications in a convenient pharmacy setting at no cost to Missourians. Every day will now be drug take back day in Missouri,” said Marcel Naddaf, Walgreens regional healthcare director in Missouri. “Our kiosk program is one of several steps Walgreens has taken to address the opioid epidemic in along with expanding access to naloxone and installing high secure time delay safes to secure controlled substances in our pharmacies.”
Safe medication disposal kiosks accept unwanted, unused or expired prescriptions, including controlled substances such as opioids and over-the-counter medications. Since the program’s inception, Walgreens safe medication disposal kiosks have collected and safely disposed of more than 400 tons of medications.
Working in partnership with AmerisourceBergen, Pfizer and Prime Therapeutics, Walgreens has installed safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 1,000 of its stores, with plans to expand to 1,500 stores by spring 2019.”Since the program began, more than 400 tons of medications, which is more than the weight of a 777 jet, has been collected and safely disposed of.
The program makes the disposal of medications easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths. The kiosks will be available during regular pharmacy hours and offer one of the best ways to ensure medications are not accidentally used or intentionally misused by someone else.
Walgreens has worked state-by-state since the launch of its safe medication disposal program in 2016. In the few remaining states, Walgreens is available and eager to work with regulators to help update rules to allow drug take-back kiosks to be available in the drugstore setting.
Additionally, Walgreens is able to dispense naloxone in all of its Missouri pharmacies without requiring a prescription. The company has also installed high secure time delay safes in all its Missouri pharmacies to secure controlled substances frequently targeted in criminal activity. By storing these medications in high secure safes, Walgreens has eliminated the immediate availability of these items, while still able to meet the needs of its patients.
Select Missouri Walgreens with Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks:
Arnold – 3937 Vogel Road
Bridgeton – 12345 Saint Charles Rock Road
Cape Girardeau – 1 S. Kingshighway Street
Jefferson City – 2002 Missouri Blvd.
Kansas City – 3845 Broadway Street; 2630 NE Vivion Road
Kirkwood – 441 N. Kirkwood Road
Richmond Heights – 6733 Clayton Road
Saint Louis – 3920 Hampton Ave.; 12098 Lusher Road
Springfield – 2640 E. Sunshine Street; 2951 S. Campbell Ave.
Washington – 890 Washington Corners
Wentzville – 1993 Wentzville Parkway
To learn more about safe medication disposal efforts visit Walgreens.com/combatdrugabuse.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. As of August 31, 2018, Walgreens operates 9,560 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
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